What Darwin Didn't Know: The Modern Science of Evolution Season 1 Episode 12 Human Evolution in All Directions

In episode 12 of What Darwin Didn't Know: The Modern Science of Evolution season 1, titled "Human Evolution in All Directions," the focus is on the evolution of humans. The episode explores the idea that human evolution did not follow a straight path, but rather evolved in multiple directions, with different groups of humans evolving different features and traits.

The episode begins by discussing the discovery of Homo floresiensis, a species of small human-like creatures that lived on the Indonesian island of Flores until around 50,000 years ago. The discovery of this species raises questions about the diversity of human evolution and whether there were other species of humans that existed alongside Homo sapiens.

The episode then discusses the evolution of the human brain, exploring the idea that human intelligence evolved not just through the growth of the brain, but also through the development of new networks of neurons. The episode features interviews with experts in the field and uses computer modeling to help visualize the evolution of the brain.

Next, the episode explores the evolution of human skin color, which evolved in response to the different levels of UV radiation in different parts of the world. The episode discusses how the variation in skin color can be traced back to the migration of early humans out of Africa and their adaptation to new environments.

The episode also touches on the evolution of human eyes and the development of depth perception. Through interviews with scientists and experiments with volunteers, the episode explores how the brain processes visual information and the role that vision played in human evolution.

Throughout the episode, there is a focus on the idea that human evolution is not a simple, linear process, but rather a complex and varied one. The episode challenges the traditional view of human evolution as a straight line from chimpanzees to modern humans and instead paints a picture of a more diverse and complex evolutionary process.

Overall, "Human Evolution in All Directions" is a fascinating look at the evolution of humans and the diversity of the evolutionary process. Through interviews with experts, visualizations, and experiments, the episode brings to life the complex and varied path that human evolution has taken.