Thursday, October 1, 2009

Sionara "Missing Link"


This picture has nothing to do with the article.
It does have everything to do with why you are on this site though.

We've all heard of the legendary "missing link," the half man half monkey connection between apes and humans. For generations scientists have searched the globe far and wide, hoping to discover evidence of the creature, and once and for all permanently link man and ape on the evolutionary scale. Legends of Yetis, Big Foots, and Sasquatches have sprung up across many a mountain side, all supporting the idea that such a creature existed. And through our belief in this creature we have become close to our supposed primate relatives, teaching them to count, drink their own pee, smoke, and even star in amazing movies like Congo.

However according to this article, all of that has now changed.

Scientists have discovered human fossil remains that date back over 4.2 million years, a solid million years older than Lucy, the previous title holder for the oldest human remains.
Ardipithecus ramidus - the new species, is much more man than ape, and because of this fact coupled with it's age, the idea of a much more ape like missing link are being thrown out completely.

This also means that man's long standing belief that studying chimpanzee behavior would give some insight into how our ancestors behaved is also irrelevant. The characteristics that the creature shows are simply not in line with those of an ape or gorilla, and date back to much earlier apes.

Scientists are already calling this a bigger find than Lucy, this is something that is huge. Realistically, if everything pans out with this, it could be one of the biggest and greatest discoveries in all of our life times. And of course, if not for Bonus Time it would have never taken place.

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