Science Video Vault
Our collection of educational videos will help your students visualize data and understand scientific concepts.
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Appearing next to a full-scale recreation of the famous "Lucy" skeleton (Australopithecus afarensis) in Tusher African Hall, this computer animation compares the distinctive gaits of a chimpanzee, A. afarensis, and modern human, highlighting the trait of upright walking that the latter two share.
Can you spot the similarities and differences amongst the skeletons?
Lucy and chimpanzees share:
- elongated skull with small brain case
- face and jaws that jut out from the brain case
- shoulder blades and joints that are suited for climbing trees
- long arms and hands with curved fingers
Lucy and modern humans share:
- spine connection beneath the skull to keep the head steady
- robust and broad basin-shaped pelvis to support the upper body and hold it upright
- angled thigh bones that place the weight directly over strong knee joints
- compact and arched feet that support the full body weight with each step
Trace the milestones of our species’ fascinating history by studying skull casts, interactive maps, and more.
Zeray Alemseged studies the origin and evolution of early human ancestors.
Explore our evolutionary history while surrounded by dioramas of African wildlife and splashing penguins.
Five questions with Dr. Zeray Alemseged, Academy Research Associate in the Department of Anthropology.
Our species’ complex evolutionary journey gives rise to big questions—here, we answer a few.