Spotlight

Spend the evening with Nova discovering fresh clues about our earliest ancestors

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Watch the full episode. See more NOVA.

Tonight, Nova presents a three-part look at how humans got to where they are today.

In part one, “First Steps” follows what set our ancestors on the path from ape to human six million years ago. The program explores the fossil of “Selam,” also known as “Lucy’s Child.” Nova‘s cameras are there to capture the unveiling of the face, spine and shoulder blades of this 3.3 million-year-old fossil child. Go “inside the skull” to see how our ancestors’ brains had begun to change from those of the apes.

In part two, “Birth of Humanity,” Nova investigates the first skeleton that really looks like us: “Turkana Boy,” an astonishingly complete specimen of Homo erectus found by the famous Leakey team in Kenya. These early humans are thought to have developed key innovations that helped them thrive, including hunting large prey, the use of fire and extensive social bonds.

And in part three, “Last Human Standing,” Nova examines the fate of the Neanderthals, our European cousins who died out as modern humans spread from Africa into Europe during the Ice Age. The program explores crucial evidence from the recent decoding of the Neanderthal genome.

“Becoming Human: Part One” airs tonight at 9/8 pm CT on KET; “Becoming Human: Part Two” airs tonight at 10/9 pm CT on KET; and “Becoming Human: Part 3” airs tonight at 11/10 pm CT on KET.