The whole story of human evolution, from ancient apes via Lucy to us, in one long read
In pursuit of knowledge, the evolution of humanity ranks with the origins of life and the universe. And yet, except when an exciting find hits the headlines, paleoanthropology and its related fields have gained far less scientific support and funding—particularly for scientists and institutions based in the African countries where so many landmark discoveries have occurred.
How Discovery of Lucy Skeleton Shaped Our Understanding of Human Evolution
The 3.2-million-year-old fossil, discovered 50 years ago, is considered to be one of the most significant early hominin specimens.
How a discovery 50 years ago rewrote human evolution theory
The thinking of early theorists was that our evolution was a coordinated, linear process. Our ancestors’ brains grew steadily larger as they started walking on two legs and standing taller until they became modern human — Homo sapiens.
Human ancestor Lucy still has secrets 50 years after discovery
She was, for a while, the oldest known member of the human family. Fifty years after the discovery of Lucy in Ethiopia, the remarkable remains continue to yield theories and questions.
This is why Lucy has been the face of human evolution for the last 50 years
Paleontologists unearthed the iconic fossil in 1974. Today, her legacy remains just as much cultural as it is scientific.
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From 'Lucy' to the 'Hobbits': The most famous fossils of human relatives
Lucy may be the best-known prehuman fossil in the world. But other famous fossils have given us important insight into our ...
Scientific American5d
When Did Human Ancestors Start Using Tools?
The 3.2-million-year-old human ancestor known as Lucy sparked a revolution in scientists’ understanding of the origins of ...
The Washington Post4d
Lucy’s Legacy
A collection of 3-million-year-old bones unearthed 50 years ago in Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins. Fifty years ago, our understanding of human origins began to change with the ...
Greek Reporter6h
DNA Analysis Debunks Herodotus’ Theory on Armenian Origins
Herodotus' theory on Armenian origins is being challenged, as DNA analysis reveals a more complex and scientifically grounded ...
EurekAlert!8d
Human evolution in an AI world: Predicting changes in brain size, attention, and social behaviors
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more common and sophisticated, its effects on human lives and societies raises new questions. A new paper published in The Quarterly Review of Biology posits ...