The Conversation/ Renaud Joannes-Boyau et al. 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 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. Infographic shows lead exposure to humans in modern times versus our ancestors; how teeth
