Gossip is what sets our species apart, as it helps us bonds with friends and learn important information about who to trust. 

 

And it's this vital communication that could prevent us from dying, something Robin³ Dunbar, professor of evolutionary⁴ psychology⁵ at Oxford⁶ University, believes is the 'most important thing' to keep us alive. 

 

Prof Dunbar told the Telegraph: 'That has a bigger effect than anything, except giving up cigarettes. 

 

'Your social network has a huge effect on happiness and well-being⁷. 

 

'The problem we have is how to maintain our social networks. Language evolved to allow us to keep the oil of the social network flowing, keep us up to date, and tell stories, which is really important for community cohesion⁸. 

 

'Gossiping is just chatting with people and keeping up to date with the social world in which you live. So gossip is what makes us human. 

 

'The use of gossip in a negative sense is not seen until the 18th century.' 

 

The idea is that as language developed it let humans communicate better and made them more likely to pass on useful information, allowing them to live in larger groups.

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