Bipedalism, or walking on two legs, is one of the key features that distinguishes humans from other apes. But when and why our ancestors transitioned from a life often spent in trees to a life spent almost exclusively on the ground remains a subject of debate.
  • adr1an@programming.dev
    1·
    8 hours ago

    Neithee “When” or “Why” are debated, afaik. The valley of the rift changed when the istmus of panama closed, and walking in the savannah turned efficient (before it was all jungle.) or that’s the tale I heard…

    This study may be interesting nonetheless, they found biophysical evidence to the same when and why.

    Yet… The press may decontextualize to make a “high” impact title.

    • adr1an@programming.dev
      1·
      8 hours ago

      Oh no. The last two paragraphs are shit.

      The researchers suggest this behavioral shift is particularly intriguing when considered alongside another major change in human evolution: the dramatic increase in brain size that began around the same time. Scientists have proposed many explanations for the increase, including language, tool use and changes in how human ancestors found food. Carlson and his colleagues posit that the move toward walking greater distances on the ground may have contributed to both the shift in relative limb strength and the increase in brain size.

      “We speculate that the shift toward more walking may have placed new demands on the body and brain, which could help explain why these changes happened around the same time,” Carlson said

      .

      Even the quote from the researcher. Wtf. Brain capacity came 2M later than bipedalism. Anyone, even without studies, can compare the photos of skulls…