It's kind of that which is kind of lowest common denominator thing. The wonderful thing about the handshake in a similar way, the hug actually, they are quite egalitarian. But then there were so many other forms of basic touch that it is interesting that this one came out on top. And I don't think it's any coincidence whatsoever that we saw the handshake rising as democracy and gender equality were rising. Don't be scared. Whatever your body type, just something you might want to try because you were not cool for the summer with your P&Wack Center.
Friends do it, strangers do it and so do chimpanzees - and it's not just deeply embedded in our history and culture, it may even be written in our DNA. The humble handshake, it turns out, has a rich and surprising history. In this week's episode palaeoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to science broadcaster Helen Czerski about a funny and fascinating voyage of discovery - from the handshake's origins (at least seven million years ago) all the way to its sudden disappearance in March 2020.
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