
Women may have been better hunters than men, scientists find
Scientists are challenging the way many people think about ancient hunter gatherers, after finding that women may have been better hunters than men. New findings have shown that while there are clear differences between the sexes when it comes to biology, the idea of men being naturally better suited to hunting is a myth. New research from professor Cara Ocobock points to women being metabolically better placed to hunt. Ocobock is an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology and director of the Human Energetics Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame. She published a study on the subject alongside anthropologist Sarah Lacy at the University of Delaware. The research also points to female hunters dating back to the Holocene period which were uncovered buried with hunting tools – and they’re challenging widely held assumptions over gender roles with the study. Ocobock said in a statement: "This was what everyone was used to seeing. This was the assumption that we've all just had in our minds and that was carried through in our museums of natural history." “Here we review and present emerging physiological evidence that females may be metabolically better suited for endurance activities such as running, which could have profound implications for understanding subsistence capabilities and patterns in the past,” the pair wrote. That’s due to the fact that the presence of the hormones estrogen and adiponectin give women the upper hand when it comes to endurance – a factor which would have been “critical in early hunting because they would have had to run the animals down into exhaustion before actually going in for the kill”. The presence of those hormones is better for modulating fat and glucose. As such, estrogen makes the body use stored fats for energy before turning to carbohydrates. “Since fat contains more calories than carbs do, it’s a longer, slower burn, which means that the same sustained energy can keep you going longer and can delay fatigue,” Ocobock said. “Estrogen is really the unsung hero of life, in my mind. It is so important for cardiovascular and metabolic health, brain development and injury recovery.” “With the typically wider hip structure of the female, they are able to rotate their hips, lengthening their steps. The longer steps you can take, the ‘cheaper’ they are metabolically, and the farther you can get, faster.” “When you look at human physiology this way, you can think of women as the marathon runners versus men as the powerlifters.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings
2023-11-25 21:55

Why Jack Grealish missed Man City's Premier League game against Liverpool
The reason behind Jack Grealish's absence for Manchester City in their Premier League meeting with Liverpool.
2023-11-25 21:53

'It’s going to be special': Fans excited as Tom Hardy announces 'Venom 3' has resumed production
Tom Hardy took to social media to announce the resumption of the filming of 'Venom 3' and thank the cast and crew for the wonderful journey
2023-11-25 21:52

Guy Hands’s Former Care Home Business to Pay Dividend
The breakup of Four Seasons Health Care, one of Britain’s biggest care home operators, has accelerated with the
2023-11-25 21:49

Buyers worldwide go for bigger cars, erasing gains from cleaner tech. EVs would help
The energy used by cars and their CO2 emissions could have dropped by over 30% in the past decade if not for the world’s growing taste for SUVs, a new report from the Global Fuel Economy Initiative suggests
2023-11-25 21:47

The debate over Ukraine aid was already complicated. Then it became tangled up in US border security
President Joe Biden’s nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other needs is sitting idle in Congress
2023-11-25 21:45

Fans upset as Paul Rudd claims his sole reward was sparkling water while dieting for 'Ant-Man': 'They tortured him'
Paul Rudd revealed his 'horrible' diet for 'Ant-Man', which had only 'sparkling water' as a reward
2023-11-25 21:29

Top 10 Ivanka Trump fashion moments
Donald Trump's elder daughter Ivanka Trump has always loved fashion, wearing high-end gowns and accessories since she was a little child
2023-11-25 21:28

Guy Fieri's oldest son Hunter announces engagement to journalist and pickleball pro Tara Bernstein
Guy Fieri's son Hunter Fieri proposed to Tara Bernstein during the Thanksgiving holiday
2023-11-25 21:26

'I just totally chickened out': Cher talks about her upcoming memoir and picks out hilarious titles with Jimmy Fallon
A humorous mishap led to unexpected revelations as Cher and Jimmy Fallon accidentally got locked in 'The Tonight Show' freezer
2023-11-25 21:25

Gazprom Says Gas Exports to China Reach New High as Demand Soars
Russia’s Gazprom PJSC said its natural gas deliveries to China have hit a new historic high amid rising
2023-11-25 21:22

'He'd be better off doing a spoof': Internet disagrees with Jon Hamm's wish to have a role in MCU
Jon Hamm, who was once considered for the role of Mister Sinister in a canceled sequel to 'The New Mutants', hopes to be a part of the MCU
2023-11-25 21:20