Best of SAPIENS 2025

After a decade of publishing, SAPIENS magazine concluded its chapter in 2025, marking the end of its run as a platform for exploring human diversity through anthropology. While the magazine will no longer publish new stories, its archive remains publicly accessible, preserving over ten years of research, essays, and insights about what it means to be human. The archive includes contributions from anthropologists, writers, and researchers worldwide, offering a living record of ideas that bridge academic and public audiences. This decision reflects a shift in the magazine’s operations but does not erase the impact of its work, which aimed to make anthropology engaging and relevant to everyday readers.

In its final year, SAPIENS highlighted ten standout stories that showcased the breadth of anthropology. These included essays on archaeology, such as the discovery of a 1,000-year-old female leader’s tomb on the Tibetan Plateau, and reflections on ethics in archaeology, like the challenges of interpreting ancient dog burials. Other notable pieces explored cultural practices, such as the anti-natalist movement in Japan—where some people choose not to have children—and the global trade of edible bird’s nests, valued in Asian medicine and cuisine. The selection also featured poetry, such as Uzma Falak’s works on fieldwork in Kashmir, and op-eds on pressing issues like the Trump administration’s cuts to anthropology in U.S. National Parks.

Several articles in the 2025 collection focused on archaeology, the study of past human societies through material remains. For example, one piece examined a 1,000-year-old tomb on the Tibetan Plateau, which revealed the existence of a female leader named Gurugyam. This discovery challenged traditional narratives about leadership in ancient societies. Another article discussed the Swanscombe fossil, England’s oldest human cranium, discovered 90 years ago. Its reinterpretation over time highlights how scientific understanding evolves with new evidence. Additionally, a study of animal migrations in Africa used isotopes in fossil teeth to suggest that ancient animals migrated less than previously thought, prompting researchers to reconsider human societies’ interactions with wildlife.

The 2025 SAPIENS collection included stories about cultural identities and traditions around the world. One article explored how Muslim transgender women in Malaysia navigate state-sponsored programs aimed at “rehabilitating” LGBTQ+ individuals, revealing the complexities of faith, identity, and state policies. Another piece delved into the anti-natalist movement in Japan, where some people reject parenthood as a philosophical stance, challenging societal norms about family and reproduction. A poem by Uzma Falak also reflected on rice cultivation in Indonesia, illustrating how traditional practices like padi nyawa (rice cultivation) embody cultural values and community bonds.

Several articles examined the relationships between humans and animals, both in the past and present. One piece investigated animal migrations in Africa, using isotopes in fossil teeth to study ancient wildebeest and zebra movements. This research suggested that these migrations were less extensive than once believed, which could reshape understanding of past human societies and future conservation efforts. Another article focused on seals in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, exploring the deep-time, mythical, and contemporary connections between seals and local communities. A third piece looked at sacred cattle in Kathmandu, Nepal, where divine cows interact with urban life, revealing tensions between ancient values and modern urbanization.

The 2025 collection included articles on health, medicine, and social challenges. One story highlighted the experiences of Black women in the U.K., who face heightened reproductive risks and anxieties due to systemic racism in healthcare. Another piece discussed the Flatten movement, where women who have undergone mastectomies choose not to pursue reconstructive surgery, challenging societal expectations about post-cancer body image. Additionally, an op-ed critiqued the Trump administration’s cuts to anthropology in U.S. National Parks, arguing that cultural anthropology is vital to understanding and preserving the human stories embedded in these protected spaces.

Poetry played a significant role in SAPIENS’ 2025 collection, with Uzma Falak serving as the poet-in-residence. Her works, such as Listening Against the Threshold of Pain and Dreamscapes of Refusal: A Chorus, wove personal fieldwork experiences in Kashmir and Germany into broader reflections on pain, refusal, and dreams. Another poem, Padi Nyawa Urang Ara Djati, explored the cultural significance of rice cultivation in Indonesia. These poetic contributions added a lyrical dimension to the magazine’s exploration of anthropology, blending personal narrative with cultural analysis.

The 2025 SAPIENS collection featured stories from diverse global contexts, offering insights into social movements and cultural practices. One article examined the Houston Pride Parade, where an anthropologist participated in a Danza Azteca ceremony to counter oppression faced by queer and Latine communities. Another piece analyzed the politics of mourning in South Korea after the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, a tragedy that highlighted failures in prevention and the marginalization of grief. A third story explored how Ukrainian volunteers created camouflage nets for soldiers during Russia’s 2022 invasion, blending care and resistance in wartime.

Several articles emphasized the importance of community engagement and ethical considerations in anthropological research. One piece argued that communities living near human origins sites should be central to research, rather than treated as passive subjects. Another story reflected on the distrust experienced by a Venezuelan anthropologist conducting fieldwork in informal settlements in Santiago, Chile, highlighting global trends of suspicion toward outsiders. These articles underscored the ethical responsibilities of researchers to build trust, respect local knowledge, and avoid harm in their work.