Christian Ashford

Music is one of the most special things about humans. It symbolizes more than just sound and communication, which is often the case for other species. However, with humans, it meant more. It fosters our social connections, enhances our cognitions, boosts our emotional well-being, and is a vital part of almost every culture. We sing, … Read more

Humans today share their food, whether it is with a friend for just a big bite or with the whole family at the dinner table. It is considered normal to give someone a portion of our meals, but has it always been like this? We often do not realize that some of the traits and … Read more

A long time ago, the modern human species wasn’t the only human alive. They lived with at least 8 other hominins, including some of our closest relatives, the Neanderthals and Denisovans. Scientists have confirmed that our species, Homo sapiens, has interbred with both of them, which is why, up to this day, some people are … Read more

The modern-day world is comprised of people with diverse skin colors, but it wasn’t always this way. Instead, early Homo sapiens and other hominins who existed before had a more uniform skin color. However, over the years, humans had to adapt to the changing environment and were forced to move to different places. But, it’s … Read more

Humans today all have different skin tones, ranging from very light to very dark; however, this was not always the case. Scientists believe that just like our closest living relative, chimpanzees, early humans may have had light skin that was covered and protected by their thick fur. This fur kept them safe from the sun, … Read more

Australopithecus is a genus of early human ancestors who lived in Africa millions of years ago. It is estimated that they first appeared around 4.2 million years ago and became extinct around 2 million years ago. Within that overall timeframe, different species in their group existed and survived for various lengths. A popular fossil named … Read more

Long ago, many species of primates had tails. It helped them in their natural habitats, which were thought to be forestry areas. Tails provide balance, an additional climbing limb, and just overall make moving in trees more efficient, safer, and better. But somewhere along the line of the hominoid or ape species lineage, tais disappeared. … Read more

Over 10,000 years ago, Earth was filled with huge and powerful creatures called the megafauna. They are generally accepted to be at least 45kg or 99lbs up to and beyond 1000kg or 2200lbs. It includes animals like woolly mammoths, woolly rhinoceros, saber-toothed cats, and dire wolves. However, a vast majority of them are extinct now. … Read more

It was estimated that Homo sapiens successfully migrated out of Africa around 50,000 to 70,000 years ago. However, our species is estimated to be about 200,000 to over 300,000 years old, which means that the majority of our ancestors have been living in Africa for all that time before the great migration. They probably faced … Read more

Homo heidelbergensis was an archaic human species that went extinct around 200,000 years ago. However, it is estimated that they lived for roughly 600,000 years as a species. They roamed Africa, Europe, and possibly some parts of Asia. Surviving for this long, in such a wide range of habitats, means they possess significant strategies that … Read more