Hominins are members of the taxonomic grouping (tribe Hominini) that includes all species evolutionarily closer to humans than to chimpanzees, including all modern and extinct human species and our immediate ancestors. This group encompasses species from the genera Homo, Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and others. Hominins are characterized by their bipedal locomotion, which refers to walking on two legs, a trait that distinguishes them from other primates, which generally use four limbs for movement. The study of hominins is crucial for understanding human evolution as it provides insights into the biological and cultural developments over millions of years. Key evolutionary changes in hominins include increased brain size, use of tools, and development of complex social behaviors. The timeline of hominin evolution spans from around 7 million years ago, with candidates like Sahelanthropus tchadensis, to modern humans, Homo sapiens, who emerged around 300,000 years ago.
Geneticist Joshua Akey states that modern humans and Neanderthals interacted for a period of 200,000 years. New genetic research reveals extensive interbreeding and longstanding interactions…
A new study from the University of Cambridge suggests that interspecies competition significantly influenced the evolutionary trajectory of hominins, resulting in a “bizarre” evolutionary pattern…
A new study from the Nihewan basin of China has revealed that hominins who possessed advanced knapping abilities equivalent to Mode 2 technological features occupied…
Recent research challenges the assertions that Homo naledi, an ancient human relative with a smaller brain dating back to 335-241,000 years ago, intentionally buried their…
Neanderthals knew how to control fire and used it to cook food. Researchers have learned about their habits and diet from the traces found near…
For years, the mysterious limestone spheroids—ancient, enigmatic stone relics—have baffled archaeologists. Dating back from the Oldowan era to the Middle Palaeolithic period, the exact reasons…
New research conducted by an international team, published in the journal Science, reveals that early human species were capable of adapting to a variety of…
Digital modeling of legendary fossil’s soft tissue suggests Australopithecus afarensis had powerful leg and pelvic muscles suited to tree-dwelling, but knee muscles that allowed fully…
The researchers find one of the earliest pieces of evidence supporting the usage of fire using cutting-edge AI methods. There’s a saying that where there’s…
New archaeological work supports the hypothesis that human populations were present in India by 80,000 years ago and that they survived one of the largest…
Neanderthal-Denisovan ancestors interbred with a distantly related hominin 700,000 years ago. For three years, anthropologist Alan Rogers has attempted to solve an evolutionary puzzle. His…
The human-caused biodiversity decline started much earlier than researchers used to believe. According to a new study published in the scientific journal Ecology Letters the…
New study on early human fire acquisition squelches debate. Fire starting is a skill that many modern humans struggle with in the absence of a…
An international research team led by scientists from McMaster University has unearthed new evidence in Greece proving that the island of Naxos was inhabited by…
If you could travel back in time 100,000 years, you’d find yourself living among multiple groups of humans, including anatomically modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans….
Did ancient supernovae induce proto-humans to walk on two legs, eventually resulting in homo sapiens with hands free to build cathedrals, design rockets, and snap…
An international team of researchers has uncovered the remains of a new species of human in the Philippines, proving the region played a key role…
Long before human ancestors began hunting large mammals for meat, a fatty diet provided them with the nutrition to develop bigger brains, posits a new…