More Hobbits

fering from microcephaly, which stunts brain growth, as some scientists have argued. It is highly unlikely that nine microcephalics would have been found without any remains of humans of normal stature. The bones’ dimensions are also wrong for a pygmy Homo sapiens.

The discoveries, by a team from the University of New England and the University of Wollongong in Australia, are published in the journal Nature.

Carl Zimmer has more details.