Episode
Where Did Human Intelligence Come From?
55:16
Published: Tue Jul 26 2022
Description
We humans are smart, to be sure, but if we’re so smart then how come we can’t figure how we got so smart in the first place? Think about that! We sure did and we go over some theories in this super interesting episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapters
Learn how to navigate financial uncertainty with How to Money, explore the relationship between our brains and experiences with Inner Cosmos, and gain knowledge on a vast array of topics with Stuff You Should Know's Brainiac edition.
00:00 - 01:33 (01:33)
Summary
Learn how to navigate financial uncertainty with How to Money, explore the relationship between our brains and experiences with Inner Cosmos, and gain knowledge on a vast array of topics with Stuff You Should Know's Brainiac edition.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The development of human intelligence started with Ardipithecus, a group of hominins that walked upright approximately six million years ago.
01:33 - 08:43 (07:09)
Summary
The development of human intelligence started with Ardipithecus, a group of hominins that walked upright approximately six million years ago. According to Richard Wrangham, there was an explosion in human culture during the upper Paleolithic time period.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The use of tools cannot be solely used to measure human intelligence as there are changes in hardware (body structure) and software (brain functionality) that play a critical role.
08:43 - 12:52 (04:08)
Summary
The use of tools cannot be solely used to measure human intelligence as there are changes in hardware (body structure) and software (brain functionality) that play a critical role.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Human evolution has forced babies to develop critical skills quickly and with a small head, so they can make it out of the birth canal, where the smallest anatomical differences can mark the difference between life and death.
12:52 - 22:14 (09:22)
Summary
Human evolution has forced babies to develop critical skills quickly and with a small head, so they can make it out of the birth canal, where the smallest anatomical differences can mark the difference between life and death.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The plasticity of the human brain has allowed for a quicker solution-based problem solving, leading to a feedback loop that propels the evolution of human intelligence forward at a faster rate than classic genetic selection alone.
22:14 - 29:25 (07:11)
Summary
The plasticity of the human brain has allowed for a quicker solution-based problem solving, leading to a feedback loop that propels the evolution of human intelligence forward at a faster rate than classic genetic selection alone.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The way human babies cry and the development of motherese as a way to communicate and soothe the baby, allowing parents to multitask while still providing comfort to their child.
29:25 - 36:50 (07:24)
Summary
The way human babies cry and the development of motherese as a way to communicate and soothe the baby, allowing parents to multitask while still providing comfort to their child. The evolution of the human brain has allowed for natural selection to take a step back in terms of physical adaptations and rely on the brain to find solutions.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Summary
Two podcast recommendations are made. The first is the "Manawalk Caves" podcast which features raw stories behind people's journeys. The second is "Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman" which tackles unusual questions about the brain and experiences.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The preference for specific charred meat led to hunting and cooking techniques, which expanded our diet, and led to the growth of intelligence in humans through bigger brain growth and invention of new tools.
40:15 - 49:01 (08:46)
Summary
The preference for specific charred meat led to hunting and cooking techniques, which expanded our diet, and led to the growth of intelligence in humans through bigger brain growth and invention of new tools.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The host talks about how people form groups and name themselves when they hike together.
49:03 - 53:09 (04:06)
Summary
The host talks about how people form groups and name themselves when they hike together. They discuss a listener's experience of hiking the Camino de Santiago with strangers and share some cool pictures.
EpisodeWhere Did Human Intelligence Come From?
PodcastStuff You Should Know
A list of recommended podcasts including The Manawalk Caves, Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman, and On Purpose with Jay Shetty.
53:09 - 55:12 (02:03)
Summary
A list of recommended podcasts including The Manawalk Caves, Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman, and On Purpose with Jay Shetty.