Study finds our ancestors were still swinging through trees very recently

[FfFfFfFF 58,117]

Fossilized bones have inspired scientific debate over when our human ancestors gave up climbing trees for good. But a recent peek inside a fossilized hip joint suggests our ancient relatives were scampering up trees more recently than previously thought. 

The hip joint, from a human ancestor dating back between about 1 million to 2 million years ago, seems to have a bone structure indicating a lot of time spent with their knees close to their chest. This balled-up position could be interpreted as the kind of crouch needed to climb trees, researchers explain in a new Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences report. If that’s the case, this relative was reaching for branches at a time when researchers thought humans had transitioned almost entirely to two-footed, upright walking.

Most of what we know about our human ancestors comes from looking at their bones. For example, rough patches can indicate where muscles attached, or the position of a knee joint can suggest a leg’s range of motion. The tissue preserved inside bones helps complete the story. The spongy matter, which might look soft and weak, actually helps researchers understand how strong our ancestors were. Tissue density changes depending on what kind of activity they did often — the “ball” in the “ball and socket” of the hip joint is particularly susceptible to these changes. 

Spending a lot of time in a crouched position encourages density in the parts of the hip that grip those muscles and limbs into that shape — perfect for climbing trees and walking on all fours. And a lot of time walking promotes density in parts of the hip joint that support standing upright..

This finding might make tree-climbing a more recent part of human history, but it can’t weigh in on how much time early humans spent among the canopies 2 million years ago.

“Unfortunately, it is not yet fully understood how ‘regularly’ they would have to have done this activity to trigger bone remodeling,” Georgiou said via email. “We understand that it would have to be a significant part of their locomotion to result in this pattern.”

Source: https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/study-finds-our-ancestors-were-swinging-through-trees-more-recently-than-we

[AdmistTheLight 2,269]

That makes me sad, why do we give up. There tons of people I would climb like a tree 

[Woolfsmck 2,763]

Ooo...oooo...eeee.   eeee.. aaahhh...aaahhhh...

 

 

[Regina George 59,387]

10 minutes ago, Woolfsmck said:

Ooo...oooo...eeee.   eeee.. aaahhh...aaahhhh...

 

 

[RAMROD 117,032]

Nekci was right

Remember the lyrics of her final song before retiring?

"Bitch, it's King Kong, yes, it's King Kong
Bitch, it's King Kong, this is King Kong
Chinese ink on, Siamese links on
Call me 2 Chainz, name go ding dong
Bitch, it's King Kong, yes, I'm King Kong
This is King Kong? Yes, Miss King Kong
In my kingdom wit' my Timbs on
How many championships? What? Six rings on"

[GreenDiamond 6,286]

we been knew

[Guest]

Time to do what MJ has done for decades

 

[ShayCristoforo 10,607]

If I could, I would too.

Maybe we should incorporate that into early phys ed. So we're able to swing like bosses by adolescence. 

Let's get #backtobasics #xtina 

[FlopSlurper 34,336]

43 minutes ago, Woolfsmck said:

Ooo...oooo...eeee.   eeee.. aaahhh...aaahhhh...

 

 

are these the monkey noises from Stupid Love? 😍

[Woolfsmck 2,763]

5 hours ago, FlopSlurper said:

are these the monkey noises from Stupid Love? 😍

Good idea...

Music lyrics.  Ft. Chimp

[StrawberryBlond 15,564]

I mis-read this as meaning that future generations will be swinging through trees shortly.

Pre-menstrual hormones are something else.

7 hours ago, RAMROD said:

Bitch, it's King Kong, yes, it's King Kong
Bitch, it's King Kong, this is King Kong
Chinese ink on, Siamese links on
Call me 2 Chainz, name go ding dong

This bit never fails to make me laugh! I'm genuinely amazed how people can praise her and then say Iggy Azalea's bad.