A study published in September in the Journal of Anatomy and reported by New Scientist suggests that footwear may influence the internal structure of ankle bones. Researchers found that people who regularly wear shoes have slight changes in the spongy network inside their ankle bones. The study compared data from fifty-six American adults who died after the year 2000 with sixteen individuals from populations that typically go barefoot, such as those on the Andaman Islands and in parts of Africa. The findings show that people who avoid shoes have denser trabecular bone at the front of the ankle, with the bone's spongy structures extending in more directions. In contrast, those who regularly wear shoes have greater volumes of trabecular bone inside and at the back of the foot. This suggests that shoes may shift weight to the inner ankle and keep the foot in a more extended position. The study, led by researchers including Thomas Püschel, an anthropologist at the University of Oxford, challenges some previous ideas about the evolution of human walking. Zewdi Tsegai, a biologist at the University of Chicago, said that studying people who prefer to walk barefoot offers a "window into the past" that could help scientists better understand how our ancestors moved. The research highlights that trabecular bone, a type of spongy bone tissue made of layers and small cavities, changes throughout a person's life and can provide clues about how ancient humans used their feet and legs. The study suggests that the widespread use of shoes in modern, industrialized societies might make it harder to compare modern humans with ancient fossils. The research also notes that pointed shoes from the Middle Ages were uncomfortable, and skeletons from several centuries ago show the damage caused by such footwear. This indicates that the design and use of shoes have had long-term effects on human anatomy, influencing not only comfort but also the structure of bones over time.