On April 18, 1861, Paul Broca conducted an autopsy on a speechless patient named “Tan,” and discovered the seat of language.

A new study reveals that between ages three and four, children’s brains undergo a major structural shift. As specific white matter pathways mature, they unlock the ability to process complex grammar rules, explaining sudden leaps in preschooler language.

Scientists are learning that sperm whales communicate in ways that may mirror human language.

Sperm whales, which make clicking sounds to communicate, use different “vowels” in ways similar to human speech