‘A thunderous warning message’: Climate change drove our ancient human ancestors to extinction, study finds
4 years, 5 months ago

‘A thunderous warning message’: Climate change drove our ancient human ancestors to extinction, study finds

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Our findings show that despite technological innovations including the use of fire and refined stone tools, the formation of complex social networks, and - in the case of Neanderthals - even the production of glued spear points, fitted clothes, and a good amount of cultural and genetic exchange with Homo sapiens, past Homo species could not survive intense climate change," said Pasquale Raia of the University of Naples Federico II, in Italy. The scientists said the study offers “robust evidence” that three human species, Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, and Homo neanderthalensis, lost a significant portion of their climatic niche just before going extinct. “It is worrisome to discover that our ancestors, which were no less impressive in terms of mental power as compared to any other species on Earth, could not resist climate change,” he said. Climate change made Homo vulnerable and hapless in the past, and this may just be happening again.” The research is published in the journal Cell Press.

History of this topic

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1 year, 6 months ago
Scientists uncover devastating event that may have led to humanity’s doom 900,000 years ago
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Mammoths ‘driven to extinction because of climate change - not humans’
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4 years, 5 months ago
Neanderthals went extinct due to bouts of sudden and intense climate change
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Inbreeding, not humans, may have led to Neanderthal extinction: Study
5 years, 3 months ago
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6 years, 6 months ago
WHAT KILLED OFF THE NEANDERTHALS?
6 years, 10 months ago
11,000 years ago, our ancestors survived abrupt climate change
6 years, 11 months ago
Ancient humans left Africa to escape drying climate
7 years, 5 months ago
Climate change is changing nature so much it may need ‘human-assisted evolution’, scientists say
8 years, 4 months ago
Climate change DID kill off the Neanderthals
8 years, 10 months ago
What Drove Neanderthals To Extinction? Maybe Us.
9 years, 11 months ago
Climate change might have helped humans replace Neanderthals
11 years ago

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