Robert D. Martin Ph.D.

About

Robert Martin, Ph.D., is Emeritus Curator of Biological Anthropology at the Field Museum in Chicago, a member of the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago, and Academic Guest of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zürich (Switzerland). He was previously on the faculty of University College London, a visiting professor of anthropology at Yale, a visiting professor at the Musée de l’Homme, Paris, and the director of the Anthropological Institute & Museum in Zurich.

Books by Robert D. Martin Ph.D.

Recent Posts

HIV and AIDS: Tracking a Sexually Transmitted Virus

Tree-building methods developed by evolutionary biologists revealed the origins and spread of HIV. Two types arose in Africa, one from chimpanzees and one from mangabeys.

Erectile Dysfunction: What Causes It and What Could Fix It

Erectile dysfunction, a major worldwide problem, is uniformly associated with aging. Biological and psychological factors contribute, but hardened arteries are a primary cause.

Skin Colour, Vitamin D Deficits and Disease Risks

Variation in human skin colour with latitude is related to ultraviolet radiation needed to produce vitamin D. Deficiency can cause health issues in many people living at high latitude.

Vitamin D Is Essential for Human Reproduction

Many people, especially those living at high latitudes, suffer from vitamin D deficiency. This has insidious effects not only on bone health but also on reproduction.

Darkness After Birth: Understanding Postpartum Depression

Hard on the heels of birth, one woman in seven experiences nightmarish postpartum depression. Effective treatments exist, but seeking medical help without delay is crucial.

Coronavirus and Pregnancy: What Are the Risks?

Coronavirus has been linked to increased prematurity, low birth weight, and C-section but has little effect on maternal or infant mortality. Transfer to the fetus is rare or absent

Lactose Intolerance: When Milk Makes You Sick

All suckled offspring digest lactose, the main milk sugar in placental mammals. Cheese making paved the way for human milk consumption after weaning; genetic mutation followed.

Menopause Revisited: Why Don’t Men Die at 50?

Human menopause is an adaptation honed by selection, not a byproduct of long lives. New facts reveal flaws in the popular "grandmother hypothesis," notably neglected grandfathers.

Massive Mammals With Menopause

Menopause is not unique to humans. It is now known to be present in at least four whale species and in Asian elephants.

When a Fetus Turns to Stone

Pregnancy in the abdomen outside the womb is life-threatening, but not always fatal without surgery. In very rare cases, a dead fetus becomes calcified.