Tonight NOVA (PBS) begins its three part series on human evolution, In Search of Early Man.
How did we become "human?" NOVA’s new three-part special investigates explosive discoveries, transforming the picture of how our ancestors started on the road that led to us — the creative and "behaviorally modern" people of today. Shot as discoveries were unearthed throughout Africa and Europe, this special unfolds with forensic investigations into the lives and deaths of our hominid ancestors.
First Steps: Six million years ago, what set our ancestors on the path from ape to human? Tuesday, November 3 at 8 pm
Birth of Humanity: New discoveries reveal how early humans hunted and formed families. Tuesday, November 10 at 8 pm
Last Human Standing: Many human species once shared the globe. Why do we alone remain? Tuesday, November 17 at 8 pm
From the description, sounds like this won’t be a rehash. I am absolutely fascinated by what makes us human and how we came to be us. I look forward to this series and hope you do, too.
Please add your thoughts, theories, and feelings into the comments.
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“I am absolutely fascinated by what makes us human and how we came to be us.” ; me too but I would phrase it differently substituting ‘homo sapien’ for ‘human’ as that word is still in the process of definition.
Will watch and see if it is truly not a ‘rehash’(for instance, will it mention the role of eating meat in the brains development?)
I don’t know about you but I don’t wish to think I came from some ape man in Africa.
All this may be interesting, but like with the dinosaurs ninty nine percent of what is known is just guessing from old bones.
If the aliens ever come back and admit they got us started, all these brilliant men will look like complete assholes.
“sounds like this won’t be a rehash” ; for me it was a rehash but then such is an interest of mine. It WAS very good in that it was a centerpoint to the creationists on a mass media platform.
And aspects I would have pointed out were just touched on(such as the role of increased protein intake and it’s effect on brain growth); it also came close to making the need for action regarding climate change to be not quickly needed by postulating our brain growth came in response to quick climate change.
Oh well, most don’t care or refuse to accept empirical evidence when it doesn’t suit their ego or beliefs.
The point made was that we were forced to think, a very good point. On the morning after the party that caused the disaster we’re in made gains with voters, it’s a good time to be reminded that challenges are a necessary part of growth. (Though being offended to be informed we’re related to apes is an amusing way to object to a wonderful job of research into the human being, and our development of a wonderful brain.)
Sounds like you’re suffering from a classic case of hubris.
Why is it disturbing to you that humans evolved from “lower” life forms??? It should give you pause to consider the price that excessive pride exacts from those who practice it. We are parasites on this planet, not rulers of it, and our stewardship of it is evidence of that.
The “guessing” you refer to, is fact-based science — and an exact one at that . . . unlike the completely fictitious accounts of history put out by religions of all stripes which rely on superstition and faith with zero substance to back up their claims.
Why are you so quick to believe a manufactured mystery while refusing to consider something that is not?
I’m sure many of the local PBS stations in the Bible Belt will get lots of hate mail and calls about this program, as they did when they dared (!) to broadcast that pathetically limp one about Darwin a few weeks ago.