Radical Anthropology

#Breasts may protect a newborn from #hypothermia:
'the surface temperature of the breasts of breastfeeding women was slightly higher than in the other groups studied.'

#evolution #thermoregulation #anthropology

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-mother-breasts-newborn-cold-perspective.html

Mother's breasts may protect a newborn from the cold—a new perspective on breast evolution

Humans differ from other primates due to their relatively large, permanent breasts, and their development has so far not been conclusively explained. According to a study conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, the surface temperature of the breasts combined with their size and shape may help a newborn maintain body temperature.

Phys.org
Feb 26 at 10:09amWeb
Show threadRadical AnthropologyFeb 26
Paper here
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/evolutionary-human-sciences/article/infants-thermal-balance-and-the-evolution-of-the-human-breast-a-proofofconcept-study/A92D7DD76F4391B1B1659CD032AD3BFC
Infant’s thermal balance and the evolution of the human breast – a proof-of-concept study | Evolutionary Human Sciences | Cambridge Core

Infant’s thermal balance and the evolution of the human breast – a proof-of-concept study - Volume 8

Cambridge Core