Becoming Human (2022)

Becoming upright was one of the first milestones in becoming human. By freeing up our hands a whole world of tool use dexterity and walking became available to us. It may have also allowed our ancestors' brains to grow. What does the fossil record tell us about how bipedalism first evolved?

Once our ancestors became upright hands became free to start altering the world around them. But the fossil records tell us that the evolutionary leap into toolmaking isn’t as straightforward as you might think.

Once the hands of our ancestors became free running became a part of our locomotion. Many animals are fast but humans are the planet's best long-distance runners. How is this possible for such a strange gangly ape? The answer lies all over our bodies in tiny pores unique to us - sweat glands.

Today humans are (probably) the only species with complex language. Did our hominin ancestors have the same ability? Was the evolution of language gradual in our species or was it a sudden explosion of ability in a short period of time?

Finding archeological evidence of ancient burials helps us pinpoint the beginning of our journey as conscious modern and even spiritual human beings. But there’s one big mystery surrounding it all. Why isn’t there more evidence of ancient burials in the continent of our origins?