human evolution, the process by which human beings developed on Earth from now-extinct primates.Viewed zoologically, we humans are Homo sapiens, a culture-bearing upright-walking species that lives on the ground and very likely first evolved in Africa about 315,000 years ago. We are now the only living members of what many zoologists refer to as the human tribe, Hominini, but there is abundant ...
Modern humans then split from Neanderthals around 300,000 to 600,000 years ago. And 40,000 years ago, we began spreading from Africa to the rest of the globe. But the true origin of modern humans is bitterly contentious.
Where do we come from? Many different groups of people have their own theories about the origins of humans. Science shows that human evolution goes back for millions of years on Earth. The very first humans are thought to have evolved in Africa. There are fossils of early humans showing we lived between 6 and 2 million years ago that have been ...
As a more recently-discovered group, we have far less information on Denisovans than Neanderthals. But archaeologists have found evidence that they lived and mated with Neanderthals in Siberia for ...
Today, we think we have reached that truth, as we now trace the modern humans, Homo Sapiens, back to a common ancestor shared with primates. Charles Darwin, one of the greatest scientific minds in history, explained our origins in his theory of evolution , suggesting a gradual development through natural selection - a process that lasted over ...
Still, the question “where do we come from” can from a scientific perspective be difficult for someone outside of the discipline to come to grips with. In part this is because the fossil record for human evolution seems to grow exponentially, with the author of each new discovery often claiming that the textbooks need to be rewritten.
How do we relate to other archaic humans given that we clearly interbred and the offspring also produced viable ancestors? Homo sapiens share physical features and genetic characteristics that distinguish them from other humans and merit their classification as a separate species. However, some believe the fact we interbred with Neanderthals ...
As we find better ways to isolate DNA from ancient remains and improve our DNA sequencing technologies, we will learn more about our species' history. Ancient DNA Tells Our Species' History Nearly 20 years ago, scientists developed techniques for extracting small amounts of DNA from ancient samples, like bones or fur or even soil, and used very ...
The fossils of early humans who lived between 6 and 2 million years ago come entirely from Africa. Most scientists currently recognize some 15 to 20 different species of early humans. Scientists do not all agree, however, about how these species are related or which ones simply died out.
Where did we come from? Humans continue to search for the answer to this fundamental question. Over the years, we've turned to both religion and science to explain where our species came from. Innovators of their time, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, used science to explain where humans came from, posing the theory of evolution. Then, paleoanthropologists Mary and Louis Leakey ...
What if the universe wasn’t just a backdrop, but a living story in motion — and we are its latest chapter? From the Big Bang to the rise of human consciousne...
We now know of more than 20 hominin species that are part of our family tree. At least half of these species are based on fossils unearthed in the last 30 years. Natural History Museum scientists are at the forefront of research on the migration, characteristics and capabilities of these early human relatives, and the origin and cultural ...
Human Origin 101. Human Origin 101. The story of human evolution began about 7 million years ago, when the lineages that lead to Homo sapiens and chimpanzees separated. Learn about the over 20 early human species that belong in our family tree and how the natural selection of certain physical and behavioral traits defined what it means to be human.
Where do we come from? Scientists believe all humans come from a common ancestral background in East Africa around 250,000 years ago. Waves of movement from this region began shortly after the emergence of our species.. Through genetic, archaeological, linguistic, and cultural evidence, scientists piece together our understanding of human origins and early migrations out of and within Africa.
People have been moving for as long as we have traces of humans on the planet. Scientists believe that all humans come from a common ancestral background in East Africa around 250,000 years ago. Waves of movement from this region began shortly after the emergence of our species.
We have a long and rich history that spans multiple continents and climates. We are not just one thing or one place; we are many things and many places. And we can learn a lot from our fossils and our DNA about who we are and where we came from. Take a look at the skull of a contender for the worlds oldest modern human :
Editor's Note: This is Part 4 in 10-part series LiveScience series on the origin, evolution and future of the human species and the mysteries that remain to be solved. The dawn of humanity remains ...
A study claims to have pinpointed the Okavango Delta in Botswana as the origin of humanity, but geneticists and anthropologists say the evidence is deeply flawed
