However, unlike communication systems governed by genetic evolution, written communication has followed the rules of cultural evolution. As the wheel evolved from something Sumerian potters first used ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. It’s relatively easy to trace a written linguistic history ...

Writing is technology. Like the mating displays of birds-of-paradise and the pheromone trails of ants, it is a form of communication. However, unlike communication systems governed by genetic ...

A photo by Seán Roberts on a recent hike near his house in Wales, which prompted him to recall the conclusion of a research paper he co-authored on the impact of environment on language. "Ultimately, ...

Ancient symbols, dating back 40,000 years, have been discovered in caves around the globe. These symbols could represent the earliest form of written language, providing a fresh perspective on the ...

But remember that all of these are language users, because all of these communicate, all of these mixed-sex members of a group. And when you look at the evolution of language in terms of its ...

The evolution of music is an elusive yet tantalising subject as, unlike skeletons, sounds don’t leave fossilised remains. The oldest known musical instrument is a 40,000-year-old flute made from bird ...