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Modern life explains why Chileans are taller and have bigger heads than their ancestors.

Today's Chileans are taller and have larger heads than their ancestors.This is the main finding of a new study looking at how the level of ICV (icv) has changed over thousands of years in northern Chile.The ICV is the space inside the cat that holds the brain, which scientists use to estimate brain size.

Little is known about how food, environment and the size and body shape of the South American population. Therefore, researchers decided to fill this knowledge gap by making a direct comparison of three different species over thousands of years. These people are cycchrorro, ancient people who were in the Chilean desert Attabama about 7,500 to 3,500 years ago, farmers of the city and Chileans who later received agriculture.

Scanning old heads

In their study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, scientists took CT (computed tomography) scans of the skulls of 68 mummified Chinese monkeys and nine farmers.These scans were compared to 83 modern Chilicas scans.

The researchers also created 3D models of the inside of the skulls to accurately calculate ICV.The height of these ancient people was calculated by examining their long bones, especially the femurs and tibias.To find out if diet is the main driving force behind biological changes, the research team analyzed the chemical traces of food in the old bones.

The study authors found that Chechoro and pre-Hispanic farmers were similar in head size, measuring 1,321.26 cubic centimeters and 1,336.57 cubic centimeters.Modern Chile has an average head size of 1,481.22 cubic centimeters.As for height, the pattern is the same: the contemporary population is taller than the ancient group, which is similar to each other.

It is according to the study, the size of the head, the formula of the mountain is the size of the course, transferring the stallion (Chinchoro) to agriculture.Changes only occurred in the Modern Era, which only improved public health and improved the quality of public health.

“The marked increase observed in modern humans is primarily due to improvements in nutrition, healthcare, and general living conditions since the 20th century,” the researchers commented in their study.

Overall, the study demonstrates the ability of organisms, in this case humans, to change their physical form in response to environmental factors.Although there may have been some changes in diet, the most dramatic differences in head size and shape are due to advances made in the last century.

By Gibby Clarke, a writer named Clifford, and verified and selected by Robert Engen, this article is about the movement of people.We rely on readers to protect you in a special scientific report.If this report is important to you (especially every month) you will see a contribution.As a thank you, you will receive a free account handout.

More information: Gonzalo M. Rojas-Costa et al, the intacrante voice and Minchor are planted in the day, scientific report (2025).DI: 10.1038 / S41598-025-25186-Y

Journal information: Scientific Reports