New Scientist

The Evolutionary Accidents That Made Us Human

Physically, Homo sapiens isn't that special in the animal world. But our species has discovered ways of beating the odds of survival in every habitat, from jungle to Arctic wasteland. In our latest interview with biological anthropologist and broadcaster Alice Roberts, we discuss the wonderful benefits bestowed on us by animals from our evolutionary past. The biochemistry in our cells goes back to the earliest single-celled creatures living in the ancient oceans, and our arms and legs date back to when the first amphibians crawled onto land around 360 million years ago. Learn more ➤ https://youtu.be/aCfmEJOh5t0 ❤️ Love New Scientist? For a specially discounted New Scientist digital subscription, go to http://bit.ly/3OFhwvL ⭐️ We have a podcast, too: Subscribe to @TheWorldTheUniverseAndUs 🛍️ Check out our shop for the smartest gifts - https://shop.newscientist.com/ MORE FROM NEW SCIENTIST ───────────────────────────── 🌐 Website: https://www.newscientist.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://bit.ly/NSYTINSTA 📘 Facebook: https://bit.ly/NSYTFB 🐦 Twitter: https://bit.ly/NSYTTW 📈 LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/NSYTLIN About New Scientist: New Scientist was founded in 1956 for “all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences”. Today our website, videos, newsletters, app, podcast and print magazine cover the world’s most important, exciting and entertaining science news as well as asking the big-picture questions about life, the universe, and what it means to be human. New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/ 00:32 We are all animals 03:39 The end of human exceptionalism 05:14 The animal remnnants in our bodies 09:22 The human brain 14:33 Our human ancestors 19:04 Why are we still here? 22:08 Human cooperation 28:27 How we will change in the future 30:40 The imperfections of the human body 34:00 Defunct organs from our evolutionary past 38:20 The placenta exixts thanks to a viral infection 40:39 The creativity of evolution 43:37 Tool use and genetic accidents 45:41 The physiology that allows us to run 50:36 Culture shapes behaviour 51:45 The importance of play, children and women 54:58 A fictional talek 56:40 Our relationship with nature #homosapiens #humanevolution #homoerectus #evolution #humanity #human