Name: Becoming Human (2022)
Uploaded: 2022
Description: Exploring the defining steps in the history of our evolution.

Exploring the defining steps in the history of our evolution.

Becoming upright was one of the first milestones in becoming human. By freeing up our hands, a whole world of tool use, dexterity, and walking became available to us. It may have also allowed our ancestors' brains to grow. What does the fossil record tell us about how bipedalism first evolved?

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It is easy to assume that our big brains are what make us human. But the first steps to becoming human were actually the first upright steps ever taken.

Bipedalism

Once our ancestors became upright, hands became free to start altering the world around them. But the fossil records tell us that the evolutionary leap into toolmaking isn’t as straightforward as you might think.

Once our ancestors became upright, hands became free to start altering the world around them.

The First Tools

Once the hands of our ancestors became free, running became a part of our locomotion. Many animals are fast, but humans are the planet's best long-distance runners. How is this possible for such a strange gangly ape? The answer lies all over our bodies, in tiny pores unique to us - sweat glands.

How is it that humans are the best long-distance runners on the planet? The answer lies all over our bodies, in tiny pores unique to us - sweat glands.

The Superpower of Sweat

Today, humans are (probably) the only species with complex language. Did our hominin ancestors have the same ability? Was the evolution of language gradual in our species, or was it a sudden explosion of ability in a short period of time?

Today, humans are the only species with complex language. How did such an incredible ability evolve?

How Humans Started Speaking

Finding archeological evidence of ancient burials helps us pinpoint the beginning of our journey as conscious, modern, and even spiritual human beings. But there’s one big mystery surrounding it all. Why isn’t there more evidence of ancient burials in the continent of our origins?

New archeological evidence of ancient burials helps us pinpoint the beginning of our journey as modern, conscious, even spiritual human beings.