For generations, people have wondered why most humans naturally prefer using their right hand. A new study now suggests the answer may go back millions of years to the way humans evolved.
Researchers say two major developments, walking upright and the growth of larger brains, may have slowly shaped right-handed dominance in humans. As early humans became better at using tools and performing precise tasks, the brain began developing stronger specialisation for movement and coordination.
Scientists found that unlike humans, most primates do not strongly prefer one hand over the other. This makes human handedness unique in the animal world. Over time, the left side of the human brain, which controls language and motor skills, may have strengthened the use of the right hand.
Today, nearly 90% of people worldwide are right-handed. Researchers believe this pattern became stable over thousands of generations as humans relied more on communication, tool-making, and coordinated movement.
The study also notes that left-handedness continues to exist in about 10% of the population, suggesting it may still offer certain advantages in specific situations.
