Even though the nose is crucial for a person’s survival, it’s not uncommon for individuals to feel dissatisfied or frustrated with it. For some, their dissatisfaction with their nose’s appearance leads them to consider cosmetic surgery. (Here’s everything you need to know about rhinoplasty.) But what determines the shape of our noses?
When Homo habilis, the first “true” member of the Homo genus, appeared on the fossil record less than 3 million years ago, it marked the onset of what New Scientist described as a “dramatic reorganization” of the hominin skull. Some researchers suggest that the modern human nose and nasal cavity are shaped as they are due to spatial constraints: As our ancestors developed larger brains, the human face shrank in size, prompting the nose to adjust accordingly.
An alternative explanation for the human nose’s shape is climate change. Specifically, human noses may have evolved according to the climate conditions of their regions to prevent lung damage, functioning as a kind of “air conditioning.”
How climate variations may have shaped the human nose
The shape of our noses might also be partly inherited from Neanderthals. Research indicates that Neanderthals and H. sapiens ancestors may have interbred, passing down some of the Neanderthals’ nasal traits (via UCL).
In a 2023 study published in Communications Biology, researchers studied data from over 6,000 Latin American participants of mixed African, European, and Native American descent. They identified specific facial traits, linked them to genetic markers, and compared them with similar data from African, East Asian, and European participants (regions where Neanderthals evolved). “Here, we find that some DNA inherited from Neanderthals influences the shape of our faces,” stated co-author Dr. Kaustubh Adhikari (via UCL).
Another co-author, Dr. Qing Li, suggested that “different shaped noses may be better suited to different climates that our ancestors lived in,” proposing that as they migrated from Africa to other regions, their inherited nasal shapes likely aided their survival in colder climates. (By the way, here’s the real reason your nose runs when it’s cold.)
Not everyone agrees with the ‘air conditioning’ hypothesis
Findings from a 2017 study in PLoS Genetics support the notion that local climates influenced early human nose shapes. Additionally, study co-author Mark D. Shriver told Penn State that our ancestors may have found certain nose shapes more attractive, affecting their mating choices and consequently the nose shapes passed down to future generations.
Yet, not all scientists are persuaded. Authors of a 2016 study in PLoS Computational Biology used computer modeling to argue that the human nose is not particularly efficient at air conditioning, especially compared to other modern primates. “This indicates our protruding nose has few contributions to air-conditioning in the nose and nasal cavity,” explained co-author Takeshi Nishimura (via New Scientist). Instead, they suggest other factors, such as facial shape development, likely had more influence on human nose evolution than climate adaptation.
Our understanding of human nose evolution may evolve as researchers continue to seek answers. While there’s considerable evidence supporting climate adaptation and natural selection, the exact reasons for our nose shapes remain uncertain. (Read about how aging affects your nose in unexpected ways.)
