Browsing Live Science today, I came across several interesting articles that I wanted to share with our readers. They are from the Human Origins section, or were found using that page as a starting point. My description wouldn't do the complexity of the matters they deal with justice, so I'll let them explain in their own words:
"Humans are unique creatures on the planet, though it wasn't always this way. Long ago, some bizarre human relatives, such as Nutcracker Man and a Homo species whose miniature bodies resembled the hobbits on Lord of the Rings, roamed Earth. Scientists are even finding evidence that modern humans crossed paths with some of our relatives, with fossils suggesting Homo sapiens may have had sex with Neanderthals and even a newly discovered species called the Denisovans. In news and features, we will cover human evolution and origins, revealing the mysteries of humanity, details on human ancestors and the evolutionary steps that led to modern humans."
-- Human Origins - Live Science
After reading that very promising description, I scrolled down to read some of the articles. I chose to share articles here today that I enjoyed reading. As Live Science is full of interesting content, I am certain that you'll be able to find something to your liking there as well!
"Although modern humans are the world's only surviving human lineage, others also once lived on Earth. These included Neanderthals, the closest extinct relatives of modern humans, and the relatively newfound Denisovans, whose genetic footprint apparently extended from Siberia to the Pacific islands of Oceania. Both Neanderthals and Denisovans descended from a group that diverged from the ancestors of all modern humans."
-- Neanderthal Woman's Genome Reveals Unknown Human Lineage - Live Science
As a Lord of the Rings and J.R.R. Tolkien fan, this next find amused me.
"The Hobbit - For years, the people of the Indonesian isle of Flores had legends of the Ebu Gogo — small, hairy cave-dwellers. Hardly anyone took these myths seriously until 2003, when diminutive skeletons with oversized feet and small chimp-sized brains were discovered there, which apparently survived until as recently as 12,000 years ago."
-- Our Crazy Family Tree - Live Science
If you prefer ancient animals over ancient humans, how about this whale of an article? I learnt a long time ago that whales are mammals however never thought that through until now...
"Even though scientists could predict what early whales should look like, they lacked the fossil evidence to back up their claim. ...
The smoking gun came in 1994, when paleontologists found the fossilized remains of Ambulocetus natans, an animal whose name literally means "swimming-walking whale." Its forelimbs had fingers and small hooves but its hind feet were enormous given its size. It was clearly adapted for swimming but it was also capable of moving clumsily on land, much like a seal."
-- What is Darwin's Theory of Evolution? - Live Science