Kovop/Shutterstock
Last Word is Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s long-running series in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions, ranging from the minutiae of everyday life to absurd astronomical hypotheticals. To answer a question or ask a new one, email lastword@newscientist.com
Could Homo sapiens have outcompeted Neanderthals in part due to a superior running ability?
Simon Dales
Oxford, UK
Our species evolved on the savannah to forage and persistence-hunt. However, we don’t need to run any more to secure our food: tap an app on your phone, and pizza arrives.
In contrast, Neanderthals were adapted to carry out…
