Discovery News > Human News > Wide Angle: The Missing Link?

Wide Angle: The Missing Link?

The recent discovery of a 1.9-million-year-old fossil presents the possibility that scientists have found the missing link between apes and humans. The fossil could even yield precious, ancient DNA from brain matter detected in this species' skull. To learn more about this intriguing ancestor and other clues to human evolution, explore the links below.

New Fossil Fits as 'Missing Link,' Scientists Argue

Is Australopithecus sediba the missing link between humans and ape-like beings? Many are claiming it could be.

Brain Parts Found in Ancient Human Ancestor

The remnants of a bacterial-decayed brain are found in the skull of a 1.9-million-year-old ancestor.

New Ancestor May Be Ape-Human Link

A new species of human found in a South African cave lived around 1.95 million years ago, had smallish teeth and walked upright.

Faces of Our Ancestors

Paleoanthropologists used sophisticated research methods to form 27 model heads from tiny bone fragments.

'X-Woman' Coexisted With Neanderthals, Modern Humans

A newly discovered human species likely wore heavy clothing and bracelets and hunted large game.

'Ardi,' Oldest Human Ancestor, Unveiled

The world's oldest and most complete skeleton of a potential human ancestor -- named "Ardi," short for Ardipithecus ramidus -- has been unveiled by an international team of 47 researchers.

Ardi: What She Tells Us About Us

Ardi's extensive skeletal remains -- skull, jaw, hands, foot, pelvis, arms and legs -- confirm that by 4.4 million years ago our hominid ancestors were fully bipedal. See what she can tell us about our evolution in this slide show.

bipedal apes chimps human walking two legs

Why Do Humans Walk on Two Legs?

From HowStuffWorks.com: Recent studies claim that human bipedalism boils down to one thing: energy.

Discovering Ardi

Learn how the researchers who discovered Ardi's skeleton uncovered her bones and what tools they used to dig her out.

Are We All Descended from a Common Female Ancestor?

From HowStuffWorks.com: Researchers examined the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of people across all racial groups, and found that every person on Earth right now can trace his or her lineage back to a single common female ancestor who lived around 200,000 years ago.