Modern human faces differ from Neanderthals due to distinct adolescent growth patterns

Modern human faces are flatter and smaller than Neanderthals' due to a difference in growth patterns. Researchers found that human facial growth significantly slows during adolescence, unlike Neanderthals and chimpanzees whose faces continue to develop longer. This developmental difference shapes adult facial morphology. This study utilized 3D scans and microscopic analyses to map midface development, contributing to understanding human evolution and the trend of gracilization.