すべてのエピソード

A global climate catastrophe sets in motion an evolutionary process 55 million years ago that produces the first primates - our distant ancestors. Govert walks through the hominid lineages in Africa that evolved here over five million years. Tree-swinging great apes turn into upright walking ape-men. New secrets about our African history are revealed every day. Govert is there when paleontologist Lee Berger discovers a possible new hominid species in South Africa. Our history takes place entirely in Africa, until our own Homo lineage arises, which is the first to move into the wide world.

In Georgia, Govert hears how the oldest hominid fossils outside Africa were found there. These are the oldest Europeans, who left Africa about 2 million years ago. Human evolution is now also taking place outside Africa, in a new environment, with new possibilities. This is how one of the best-known human species besides Homo sapiens emerged in Europe: the Neanderthal. Thanks to advanced DNA techniques, we know that we mixed with them. The new technology is increasingly unraveling our erratic genetic tangle. Govert discovers that our close bond with Neanderthals has more consequences than he thought, including for him personally.

The theory of evolution was introduced by Charles Darwin. But we are not descended from the chimpanzee, as is often thought. Humans and chimpanzees do have a common ancestor. Govert hears more about this in England. Research on mice in Germany and lizards in Scotland shows that bizarre evolutionary forces are at play in the animal kingdom. Our development is not a straight line from A to B, as Govert also heard from Lee Berger in South Africa, upon his discovery of Homo naledi. Fortunately, the Dutchman Frido Welker in Copenhagen has the solution to unravel our erratic evolution in the future. Dutch

What sets humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom? What makes us special? There is no single cause, but it started millions of years ago when a distant ancestor picked up a stone or stick and used it as a tool. In a short time, humans evolved from prey to top predator. From there, Govert follows the most crucial events in our evolution, such as the use of fire and the development of culture, language and writing. According to Harvard professor Richard Wrangham, it is thanks to our self-domestication and social skills that we are still around today and the Neanderthals are no longer there.

The previous episodes were about our history. In this episode, Govert looks in the mirror and wonders where humanity stands at the moment. Man has come a long way, but the earth is not doing well. A growing group of scientists points to humanity as the cause of climate problems and speaks of a new geological era: the Anthropocene (age of man). Govert sees the consequences of our actions in Georgia, among others. He reflects on man and man's influence with biologist Midas Dekkers. Fortunately, there is also hope when Govert talks to a new generation of go-getters.

What does the future of humanity look like? Are we dying or are we reinventing ourselves? Extinction is part of evolution, but an apocalyptic natural disaster is not obvious, Govert understands when he speaks to researchers in Oxford. Rather, we ourselves are the greatest danger to our future. Yet futurologist Anders Sandberg has unwavering confidence in technology. He allows himself to be frozen so that he can experience the future of humanity. There are also idealists who believe that we will overcome death and live forever. Finally, Govert investigates whether there is still room for humanity outside Earth, among the stars.