The world, the universe and us First skull of mysterious human ancestor; Decoding whale language; Heatwaves 20x more likely to happen
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Jun 20, 2025 Mike Marshall, a journalist and author of the Our Human Story newsletter, dives into captivating discussions. The discovery of the Denisovan skull, nicknamed 'Dragon Man,' could transform our understanding of human evolution. They also decode whale communication, revealing potential parallels with human language. Additionally, rising heatwaves linked to climate change signal an alarming shift, with the UK bracing for unprecedented high summers. Marshall emphasizes the urgency of these issues and their implications for our future.
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Dragon Man Skull's Secret History
- The "Dragon Man" skull was hidden in a well for nearly a century by an unknown man during Japanese occupation.
- It was only revealed to relatives on the man's deathbed in 2018, sparking renewed research.
Molecular Proof of Denisovans
- Molecular analysis of the Dragon Man skull confirms it belongs to the Denisovans using mitochondrial DNA from dental calculus.
- Proteins and specific amino acid variants also supported this classification despite difficulties extracting DNA.
Denisovan Physique is Massive
- Denisovans were physically large and bulky, evidenced by big teeth, jawbones, and the Harbin skull.
- Researchers estimate their lean body mass was about 100 kg, comparable to American football players.
