Scientists explore why Homo sapiens outlasted other human species
New research shows Neanderthals possessed sophisticated abilities comparable to modern humans, raising questions about what led to their extinction.
What to know
- Recent research demonstrates Neanderthals possessed sophisticated cognitive and behavioral abilities comparable to Homo sapiens.
- Despite sharing advanced capabilities with modern humans, Neanderthals and other human species went extinct while Homo sapiens alone survived.
- Scientists are investigating what factors explain why our species uniquely persisted when others with similar abilities disappeared.
“Scientists now know that they shared many of the sophisticated abilities of Homo sapiens. So why are we the only humans left standing?”
NYT Science · New York Times · Oct 25
Carolyn Y. Johnson Science journalist
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Scientists reveal Neanderthals had sophisticated abilities comparable to Homo sapiens
New research shows that Neanderthals possessed many of the sophisticated cognitive and behavioral abilities previously thought unique to Homo sapiens, prompting scientists to reconsider the reasons for the extinction of other human species.
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first by Demokratis.co.id, 13d ago
1 more headline
- Scientists Examine Why Neanderthals and Other Humans Disappeared SuaraGarut.ID · 13d ago
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first by New Scientist, 13d ago
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It is really not far-fetched that these passages describe some ancient memories of coexisting with another quasi-human race. And certainly the narrative of interbreeding is tantalizing. Perhaps if it did not actually happen this way, we believe it now, because many Christians would need to interpolte truth about the past and reconcile these…
2 more of the top 3 · 6 posts in this stretch
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I have a soft spot for such folklore. Strictly speaking, much doesn't hold up to scrutiny but I see no wrong with wild conjecture for the fun of it.For starters, some catastrophes do shine through more recent history:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_flood_myths- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_winter_of_536-…
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One thing that i think should be considered in human archaeology is the narratives/stories/myths from different cultures featuring "different sorts of people". Many were handed down orally from the misty past before being written down and hence may contain some truths to them.We are often quick to dismiss them as mere fanciful story-telling of…
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Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by Daily Kos, 13d ago · also HN Frontpage, NYT, NYT Science
1 more headline
- What Happened to the Neanderthals? HN Frontpage · 12d ago
What people are saying 3 voices from 1 site · best of 6 · verbatim
- Oct 28
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Some Aboriginal Australian cultures have folklore describing the rise of sea levels at the end of the last ice age. Also, Songlines are fascinating.
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These findings always seem to be suggesting that we more or less warred (fought, disputed territory ranges - pick your euphemism) upon them opportunistically over centuries and didn’t lose.E.g.
- Oct 26
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Pluto and the modern day understanding of Neanderthals are probably Top 5 learning corrections in my lifetime.