From our enormous brains, to our amazing hands, leading academics have long pondered the attributes that make us uniquely human. When compared to other animals, a fascinating story of human evolution emerges. Sometimes it’s the features we least think about, that set us apart, like our special way of sweating. Other traits which we consider uniquely human, like our ability to use tools, are surprisingly widespread amongst other species. With stunning footage and high-end graphics, this colourful, insightful series reveals what singles us out from the pack across two episodes.
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We are taught that competition is the key driver of evolutionary change in animals. But cooperation is key to the success of many species, including humans – the ultra-cooperative species. Many of the behaviours we consider to be unique – like tool use and language are shared by many other animals. But humans have achieved a complexity that far surpasses any animal through pushing the cooperative boundaries past family groups and towards a truly global network. What brought us to this point?
As one of the smartest and most physically capable animals, why are we born so helpless? Ironically, it’s because we are so smart. This episode looks at what makes our brains special and how other animals like the octopus achieve a remarkable array of talents with a lot less. As the upright ape, our musculoskeletal system has also given us an amazingly efficient form of locomotion – running. By becoming one of the world’s best endurance runners, humans gained a crucial edge over many other species.
From our enormous brains, to our amazing hands, leading academics have long pondered the attributes that make us uniquely human. When compared to other animals, a fascinating story of human evolution emerges. Sometimes it’s the features we least think about, that set us apart, like our special way of sweating. Other traits which we consider uniquely human, like our ability to use tools, are surprisingly widespread amongst other species. With stunning footage and high-end graphics, this colourful, insightful series reveals what singles us out from the pack across two episodes.
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ZDF , WildBear Entertainment
