Humans Faced Near Extinction 1 Million Years Ago, Mystery Remains

Quick Summary:

• A 2023 study examined genetic data from 3,145 modern humans and found evidence of a severe population bottleneck nearly 1 million years ago.
• Researchers estimate humanity’s numbers dropped to approximately 1,200 individuals during this event.
• The bottleneck occurred between approximately 930,000 and 813,000 years ago, reducing the human population by an estimated 98.7%.
• Climate changes during the transition to the middle Pleistocene period likely contributed heavily to prolonged cold periods, droughts, and famine that threatened human survival.
• Humans in this era were forced into isolated communities were competition for resources intensified amidst harsh environmental conditions.
• Fossil evidence from this time period is scarce, adding challenges in understanding the exact causes or scale of the bottleneck event.
• Around 813,000 years ago, improved climate conditions allowed human populations to rebound as environments became more hospitable.

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Indian opinion Analysis:
this study sheds light on humanity’s ancestral struggles with survival against natural forces like climate fluctuations. While distant in history and geography from present-day India’s concerns or priorities directly-these findings highlight two themes relevant today: resilience amidst environmental challenges and cooperation versus competition under adversity.

For India specifically-a nation grappling with contemporary pressures such unpredictable floods ,& human impact raised Climate Crisis