A genetic study published in Science suggests ancient human ancestors nearly went extinct about 900,000 years ago.
Researchers found the breeding population may have dropped to around 1,280 individuals, a decline of nearly 99%.
The bottleneck reportedly lasted about 117,000 years, likely driven by extreme climate changes during the Pleistocene.
Despite the harsh conditions, early humans survived and eventually repopulated the planet.
Researchers found the breeding population may have dropped to around 1,280 individuals, a decline of nearly 99%.
The bottleneck reportedly lasted about 117,000 years, likely driven by extreme climate changes during the Pleistocene.
Despite the harsh conditions, early humans survived and eventually repopulated the planet.
A genetic study published in Science suggests ancient human ancestors nearly went extinct about 900,000 years ago.
Researchers found the breeding population may have dropped to around 1,280 individuals, a decline of nearly 99%.
The bottleneck reportedly lasted about 117,000 years, likely driven by extreme climate changes during the Pleistocene.
Despite the harsh conditions, early humans survived and eventually repopulated the planet.
