Humans are the only species that have managed to live in almost every environment on Earth. This ability to adapt is not new. Long before the modern era, ancient humans showed remarkable flexibility in finding food and resources in tough places.

This adaptability is what allowed them to spread out from Africa around 50, 000 years ago. But why were they ready to move then, and not before? This is a question that has puzzled scientists for a long time.

One theory is that humans made a big technological breakthrough or found a new way to share information. However, there is no solid evidence to support this idea. So, researchers took a different approach. They looked at the trait of flexibility itself.

Scientists gathered data from archaeological sites across Africa, dating from 120, 000 to 14, 000 years ago. They modeled the climate of each site during the time ancient humans lived there. The results were surprising. Around 70, 000 years ago, there was a significant change in the types of habitats humans were using. They started living in much more challenging and extreme environments.

This shift shows that humans developed an ecological flexibility that helped them succeed. They moved from savannas and forests into dense rainforests and arid deserts. This adaptability is what allowed them to expand across the world.

However, it is important to note that other early human ancestors also left Africa and established long-term settlements. This includes groups that evolved into Europe’s Neanderthals. So, while this research helps explain why humans were ready to expand, it does not answer why only our species remains today.

It is also crucial to consider that this flexibility is not just about physical survival. It is also about cultural and social adaptability. Humans have always been able to change and adapt their societies to fit new environments. This is a key part of what makes us unique.

This research shows that humans have always been adaptable. But it also raises new questions. How did this adaptability evolve? And what role did it play in the success of our species? These are questions that future research will need to answer.

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