early humans

12.02.08

The Roots of Upright Walking

Scientists determine that the need to carry babies wasn't a driving factor as early humans started walking tall

By Gregory Mone Posted 04.24.2008 at 8:13 am 7 Comments

Scientists have long been trying to figure out why early humans became bipedal, and one popular explanation has now been crossed off the list of possibilities. There was a popular notion that we started walking upright to free up our arms so we could carry objects, and babies—apes don't need to worry about this because their offspring can cling to them using their hands and feet. It's like a built-in Baby Bjorn.

But now University of Manchester researchers say the baby-carrying theory doesn't hold, mainly because supporting an infant on your hip or in your arms is too tiring to have been a legitimate factor in the transition to bipedalism.

[ Read Full Story ]

READ MORE ABOUT > bipedalism, early humans, energy efficiency, EVOLUTION, Gregory Mone, hominins, human locomotion

speedy The Fastest Swimsuit on Earth
"At the Beijing Olympic pool, perhaps the only star bigger than Michael Phelps was his swimsuit. The Speedo LZR (pronounced "laser"), like Phelps, didn't disappoint: 16 of the 32 gold-medal winners wore the full-body suit, and another 13 wore LZR pants."
[Read full story]

speedy A Finish that Repairs Itself
"It won't save you from a key-gouging vandal, but the finish on the 2008 Infiniti EX and FX-model SUVs can erase scrapes caused by, say, car washes or stray branches."
[Read full story]

speedy Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser
"Truck-mounted IED-destroying lasers have already been tested in Iraq, but firing lasers from an airplane is a more difficult proposition."
[Read full story]

speedy A Spit Test for Heart Attacks
"This year, San Antonio EMT crews began using a spit test that detects cardiac arrest faster, more accurately and more cheaply than other diagnostic tests."

[Read full story]

Eleven Clever Tips for Digital Camera Owners
You've got the technology in your pocket, so make the most of it
Middleweight Camera Championship
A series of comparison shots from the showdown of smaller “big” cameras from Canon, Olympus, and Panasonic
Dude, Where's My Flying Car (and Jetpack, and Robot Armies)?
Whatever did happen to yesterday's beloved technologies of tomorrow?

+ More Photo Galleries

Share your photos in the Pop Sci pool at www.flickr.com!
Current theme: Spooky Science
Our latest winner

regarding	user	just commented
What's Good and What's Bad	sunsettactical	sorry generic, but grover is
A Conversation With Robert Zubrin	Chipper Smoltz	I believe we should take
Nokia’s Own Jesusphone	brendon7104	Ummm...Isn't that
Nokia’s Own Jesusphone	imongi	maybe they meant it was
Baby Steps Going Out of Style	imongi	Why am I not surpirsed that