Top 5 Biological Anthropology News 2025
Top 5 Groundbreaking Biological Anthropology Discoveries of 2025
Why are we the way that we are?
As we approach the end of the year, science has worked hard to push research closer to answering this question.
I’m Mohammed Thanvir, and here are my top 5 biological anthropology news stories from 2023!
Tool Making:
One of the ways humans are considered unique is their ability to make complex stone tools.
New research from wild macaque monkeys has challenged how we interpret hominins, aka our human ancestors, earliest tool technologies.
Researchers observed that macaques in Thailand use rounded pieces of limestone, called hammerstones, to split open nuts on a stone platform.
When they miss, a piece of the hammerstone accidentally flakes off.
Making flakes intentionally is a process known as knapping, which was used to create more complex stone tool technologies as humans evolved.
The shape of the flakes accidentally made by the macaques looked similar to some flakes made by hominins in one of the earliest tool technologies called Oldowan.
Scientists estimate 20-30% of Oldowan flakes may not have been made intentionally, like we originally thought.
But, this information helps scientists better interpret hominin tool use and the story of becoming human!
Hey Grandma!
Grandma Menopause
Menopause, a process that ends the ability to reproduce, is extremely rare in the animal kingdom, only previously seen in some whales and humans. Or so we thought!
But why are they the only mammals in the wild to experience menopause?
One popular explanation is the grandmother hypothesis, where older females ensure that their genes are passed on in future generations by helping take care of their grandbabies.
But this doesn’t quite work in wild chimpanzees!
While researchers discovered they also go through menopause and live for many years after, they are not involved in raising offspring related to them, which throws a wrench into the hypothesis.
Some scientists now think that menopause may occur to prevent reproductive competition with younger females that they’re related to.
While we haven’t cracked the case, researchers are steps closer to solving the mystery!
Family Teeth
Mitochondria might be the powerhouse of the cell, but DNA is the cookbook for proteins!
DNA degrades quickly as the remains of organisms are replaced with minerals during fossilization, so it is rare to find.
However, proteins, which are created using DNA, last longer in fossils. Scientists extracted proteins from the tooth enamel of hominins called Paranthropus robustus that lived around 2.2 million years ago!
Studying these proteins and comparing them to genetic data from other hominins allowed researchers to help support our current understanding of the hominin family tree.
However, the most exciting discovery was being able to help estimate sex using chromosomes!
Some enamel proteins are made only from information from the Y chromosome. This means those individuals were likely males. While this research still needs the stamp of approval from other scientists in a process called peer review, this could be another avenue for helping new species find their place in the family tree and shed light on variation within species!
Homo NTI
Counting Your Chickens Before They Hatch
Speaking of peer review, let’s talk about Homo naledi, one of the latest hominin species discovered!
This year, a preview of three papers was made public before going through peer review.
In the papers, researchers claim that Homo naledi, who lived around 330,000 years ago, used fire, intentionally buried their deceased, and created art.
If true, this would push the date of the earliest intentional burials and art back by over 100,000 years, which is a big deal!
Peer review is important in evaluating how valid and strong scientific research papers are.
However, during review, fellow scientists found that the evidence presented in the papers was not strong enough to support these claims.
This work went viral before the papers were reviewed, highlighting the importance of the peer review process.
Nature vs Nurture
Why do we find ourselves reaching for tasty foods high in fat and sugar even though we aren’t hungry?
Nature versus nurture is a classic question that science aims to help demystify.
The part of the brain that is associated with reward and motivation in primates is called the nucleus accumbens.
A chemical in the brain called Neuropeptide Y is found in high amounts in this area, which increases the desire to find high-sugar and high-fat food, specifically when not hungry.
A study of 13 different primate species found that humans have higher concentrations of this neurochemical in the nucleus accumbens compared to others.
Neuropeptide Y may have been helpful for our ancestors to be more successful in reproducing and help develop larger brains, which require a lot of calories.
BUT!
In today’s society, where we generally have better access to food, this can lead to ingesting a lot of extra calories that our body doesn't need to immediately use.
So, the next time you find yourself looking for something to eat even though you’re not hungry, know that neuropeptide Y is encouraging you!
Well, that’s a wrap on 2025, but I can’t wait to see what biological anthropology has to bring in 2026!
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The Arctic Is No Longer a Frozen Backwater For decades, the Arctic sat quietly on the margins of global politics—remote, frozen, and largely ignored. That era is over. Britain is now in talks with NATO to strengthen Arctic security, acknowledging growing risks posed by Russia and China. In a notable shift, London’s assessment aligns closely with warnings long emphasized by Donald Trump, particularly as he continues to express strategic interest in Greenland. What once sounded like an eccentric fixation has evolved into a serious geopolitical conversation. The Arctic is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most contested regions, and Britain is positioning itself to play a larger role. Why Britain Is Paying Attention Now Although the UK is not an Arctic nation, it is an Arctic-adjacent power with significant strategic interests. British officials increasingly view the High North as critical to national and allied security. Melting ice is opening new shipping routes, exposing untapped natural resources, and making military movement easier than ever before. Britain’s talks with NATO focus on intelligence sharing, joint exercises, surveillance capabilities, and protecting undersea infrastructure such as communication cables and energy pipelines. These are not abstract concerns. Any disruption in the Arctic could have immediate consequences for European security and global trade. In short, what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. Russia’s Expanding Arctic Footprint Russia is the dominant military power in the Arctic, and it is not slowing down. Moscow has reopened Soviet-era bases, deployed advanced missile systems, expanded its icebreaker fleet, and increased patrols across the region. The Arctic coastline represents a core part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent, making it strategically vital to the Kremlin. From NATO’s perspective, this military buildup creates both risk and uncertainty. Britain, which has long been vocal about Russian aggression—from Ukraine to cyber warfare—sees the Arctic as another front where deterrence must be strengthened before tensions spiral. The concern is not necessarily an immediate conflict, but miscalculation. In a region with harsh conditions and limited communication infrastructure, even minor incidents could escalate rapidly. China’s Quiet but Steady Arctic Ambitions While Russia’s presence is overt, China’s Arctic strategy is more subtle—and equally concerning to Western planners. Beijing calls itself a “near-Arctic state,” a label that has raised eyebrows in Europe and North America. Through investments, research stations, and partnerships, China is laying the groundwork for long-term influence. Britain shares NATO’s concern that China could use civilian projects for dual-use purposes, blending scientific research with intelligence gathering and infrastructure control. As Arctic shipping routes become commercially viable, China’s interest in controlling parts of the supply chain only grows. London’s alignment with these concerns reflects a broader shift in UK foreign policy: China is no longer viewed solely as an economic partner, but as a strategic competitor. Trump, Greenland, and Strategic Reality Donald Trump’s repeated interest in Greenland—most famously his suggestion that the United States should buy it—was widely mocked at the time. Yet behind the headlines was a strategic logic that many Western governments now openly acknowledge. Greenland sits at the heart of the Arctic, hosting vital air and naval routes between North America and Europe. It is also rich in rare earth minerals critical for modern technology and defense systems. As ice recedes, Greenland’s strategic value only increases. Britain’s current position, which aligns with Trump’s warnings about Arctic vulnerabilities, shows how quickly political perceptions can change. What once seemed unconventional now appears prescient. NATO’s Arctic Awakening NATO has traditionally focused on Eastern Europe and the North Atlantic. The Arctic, despite its importance, received less coordinated attention. That is changing. Britain’s talks with NATO reflect a broader alliance effort to integrate Arctic defense into its core strategy. This includes: Increased joint military exercises in cold-weather environments Enhanced monitoring of Russian and Chinese activity Strengthening cooperation with Arctic nations like Norway, Canada, and Denmark Protecting critical undersea and satellite infrastructure For Britain, this is also about credibility. As a leading NATO member and a key military power, the UK wants to demonstrate that it can contribute meaningfully beyond its immediate geography. Climate Change as a Security Multiplier One of the most striking aspects of Arctic security is how closely it is tied to climate change. 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Arctic security lacks the visibility of conflicts like Ukraine, making it harder to sustain political attention. Yet policymakers increasingly argue that prevention is cheaper—and safer—than crisis response. What This Means Going Forward Britain’s talks with NATO mark an important shift in how the Arctic is viewed: not as a distant frontier, but as a central arena in 21st-century security. Agreement with Trump-era assessments on Russia, China, and Greenland underscores how geopolitical realities can outlast political controversies. As competition intensifies, the Arctic will likely become a testing ground for cooperation, deterrence, and strategic foresight. Britain’s involvement signals that mid-sized powers are no longer content to watch from the sidelines. Final Thoughts The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth—and so are the geopolitical tensions surrounding it. Britain’s move to boost Arctic security with NATO reflects a growing consensus that ignoring the High North is no longer an option. Whether driven by Russia’s militarization, China’s quiet expansion, or lessons drawn from Trump’s blunt warnings, one truth stands out: the future of global security may well be shaped at the top of the world, where ice, ambition, and power now intersect.
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