An excavation at an iconic Neandertal burial site uncovers evidence for one individual's potential fatal wound as well as an injury endured for years.

Teeth and bone fragments unearthed in a cave in China, along with animal bones and stone tools, help paint a picture of Denisovan life.

Nature, Published online: 31 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02366-y

Viral sequences from Chilean mummies confirm the disease was introduced from Europe.

Nature, Published online: 23 July 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02279-w

A shift from nomadic lifestyles could have triggered linguistic diversity before it then declined rapidly.