early humans

Humans have been controlling fire for at least 300,000 years

Archaeologists working at Qusem Cave in Israel have uncovered a 300,000 year-old hearth. It’s the earliest evidence of repeated fire building over a continuous period by humans. Anthropologists estimate that humans first discovered fire about a million years ago. What we don’t know, however, is when our ancestors first starting using it on a regular…

io9 George Dvorsky Jan 28

This skull pushes back human occupation of Southeast Asia and Australia by 20,000 years

An ancient skull found in a cave in the Annamite Mountains in northern Laos has revised our conceptions of when humans first occupied Southeast Asia and Australia. The skull, which is the oldest modern human fossil ever discovered in that part of the world, shows that ancient humans inhabited diverse habitats far earlier than previously…

io9 George Dvorsky Aug 21

10 Deadly Enemies that Humans Turned Into Servants

We hear a lot, in science fiction, about things that now serve us but will soon kill us. Like robots. But what about the reverse — things that used to kill us in droves, but now serve us? Predatory animals, microbes, and the elements themselves — they all held dominion over us. Once. Celebrate the…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell Mar 30

Scientists figure out how to test Neanderthals for left or right handedness

Scientists developed an experiment that reveals whether our long-dead evolutionary cousins Neanderthals are right or left handed – just from dental records. They did it by relying on evidence from stone tools, and humankind’s innate klutziness. Most of us have looked skeptically TV shows where scientists gesture at six fragments of bone and say that…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell Apr 22

Proof that humans could outrun Neanderthals

One of the traits that gave humans an evolutionary advantage was their ability to run for long distances. It helped humans catch energy-rich meat to grow big brains. It also looks like it helped us leave Neanderthals in the dust. It is said that one could wash and shave a Neanderthal, put her in a…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell Feb 4

A mysterious group of early humans who made tools 55,000 years ahead of their time

Blombos Cave in South Africa may have harbored a group of early humans whose tool-making techniques outpaced those of other groups by many thousands of years. Today scientists announced the discovery of more sophisticated tools from this unusually advanced civilization. Previously, researchers have found evidence that people who lived in Blombos Cave 75,000 years ago…

io9 Annalee Newitz Oct 28

47 Million Year Old Skeleton Reveals the Missing Link Between Lemurs and Humans

Meet Ida, the 47 million year old fossil who may represent one of our earliest known ancestors. She’s probably the most complete primate fossil ever discovered, and she explains where humans (and lemurs) come from. Hailing from the Middle Eocene (about 47 million years ago), this discovery will help to shed light on the early…

io9 AndrewLiptak May 19

Humans have been controlling fire for at least 300,000 years

This skull pushes back human occupation of Southeast Asia and Australia by 20,000 years

10 Deadly Enemies that Humans Turned Into Servants

Scientists figure out how to test Neanderthals for left or right handedness

Proof that humans could outrun Neanderthals

A mysterious group of early humans who made tools 55,000 years ahead of their time

47 Million Year Old Skeleton Reveals the Missing Link Between Lemurs and Humans

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