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Magazine article
Human ancestors were exposed to lead millions of years ago, and it shaped our evolution
The Conversation
16/10/2025
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Abstract
When we think of lead poisoning, most of us imagine modern human-made pollution, paint, old pipes, or exhaust fumes.
But our new study, published today in Science Advances, reveals something far more surprising: our ancestors were exposed to lead for millions of years, and it may have helped shape the evolution of the human brain.
This discovery reveals the toxic substance we battle today has been intertwined with the human evolution story from its very beginning.
It reshapes our understanding of both past and present, tracing a continuous thread between ancient environments, genetic adaptation, and the unfolding evolution of human intelligence.
Details
- Title
- Human ancestors were exposed to lead millions of years ago, and it shaped our evolution
- Creators
- Renaud Joannes-Boyau - Southern Cross UniversityAlysson R. Muotri - University of California, San DiegoManish Arora - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Publication Details
- The Conversation
- Publisher
- The Conversation Media Group Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991013322328502368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Magazine article