Every known Homo naledi skeleton in South Africa may be female, surprising scientists
A new study of Homo naledi fossils from South Africa's Rising Star cave system suggests that all recovered skeletons may be female. Researchers identified this through protein analysis of teeth, challenging previous assumptions about the species' biology and social structure.
Why it matters
This discovery forces a re-evaluation of how this ancient hominin species lived and potentially interacted with their dead, providing new insights into human evolution.
"The bottom line is this is a weird result from an already weird hominin."
The report is a straightforward summary of scientific findings published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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