Innovative scientific techniques and fresh discoveries are adding to our knowledge on some of the most fundamental questions about humankind at an unprecedented rate. Here you can keep up to date with the most recent findings.
Did taking refuge from climate change spur human evolution? - 16/03/2012 Models of ice age plant and animal movements reveal clues to human evolution.
Did a good sense of smell give us an evolutionary advantage? - 13/12/2011 Sense of smell may have been as important as language in giving modern humans an evolutionary advantage over other human relatives.
Devon jawbone reveals earliest NW European - 02/11/2011 A jawbone from Kent's Cavern has revealed that modern humans were living in northwestern Europe between 41,000 and 44,000 years ago.
Mystery of a West African skull from 13,000 years ago - 16/09/2011 Humans with primitive skull features were still living in West Africa 13,000 years ago.
Sediba human ancestor could shift our origins to South Africa - 08/09/2011 A human-like species may shift the likely location of early human origins from East Africa to South Africa.
Modern humans came from southern Africa, study suggests - 22/03/2011 A genetic study suggests modern humans evolved in southern Africa rather than in the east.
Earliest human skull-cups made in the UK - 16/02/2011 The earliest known examples of human skull-cups have been uncovered in the UK, Natural History Museum scientists report.
Ancient Denisovans and the human family tree - 12/01/2011 A new group of ancient humans interbred with our species and left behind a genetic trace. Chris Stringer talks about the research.
Neanderthal teeth reveal they grew up quicker than us - 22/11/2010 A high-tech study of tooth growth lines reveals that Neanderthals had shorter childhoods and reached maturity earlier than modern humans.
Oldest tool use and meat-eating revealed - 12/08/2010 Ancient human relatives used stone tools to help them eat animals more than 3 million years ago.
Ancient Britons were earliest northern Europeans - 07/07/2010 Ancient humans lived in Britain more than 800,000 years ago Museum scientists report.
First genetic code of Neanderthal reveals interbreeding - 06/05/2010 The genetic code of the Neanderthals has been revealed for the first time, giving surprising clues to their intimate relations with modern humans.