The evolution of childhood: what are the evolutionary pressures that made us the way we are?

Save 25% on a series ticket

THURSDAY 7 JULY  | 6-7pm BST | 1-2pm EDT | ON-DEMAND   Compared to the rest of our primate relatives, humans have a uniquely long childhood. From picking a mate to having a baby – and raising it to make more babies –what are the evolutionary pressures that made us this way? When did we choose pair-bonding, why is pregnancy so dangerous, how did we evolve dads, and what is so suspicious about grandmas? More importantly – what have we evolved to use all this extra childhood for? Join anthropologist and archaeologist Brenna Hassett to hear the answers to these questions and many more.   Find out more and book your ticket SAVE 25% WITH A BEING HUMAN SERIES TICKET Save 25% off the standard ticket price by purchasing a subscription to all four Being Human online talks to hear from the finest minds in science. Also in this series: HOW TO BE HUMAN THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2022 | 6-7pm BST | 1-2pm EDT & ON-DEMAND Humans are weird creatures, with obscure social customs, complex interpersonal relationships and baffling unwritten rules. In this talk, champion of neurodiversity, Camilla Pang, will help us understand the weird, wonderful and unique complexities of the human species. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of eight, Camilla created her own manual for understanding humans, which went on to win the Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize in 2020.   Camilla Pang, computational biologist & author Find out more THE DAWN OF LANGUAGE AVAILABLE ON-DEMAND How and why did we evolve from language-less apes to speaking humans? Who were the first speakers, what did they talk about, and in what language? Join Sverker Johansson, linguist and author of The Dawn of Language: How We Came to Talk, as he explains how we can go beyond speculation about these questions and trace how our first spoken communications evolved into the full diversity of human language today. Sverker Johansson, senior advisor, Dalarna University Find out more WHY WE LOVE AVAILABLE ON-DEMAND Love is a complex, awe-inspiring phenomenon. In this talk, evolutionary anthropologist Anna Machin will take the audience on a rollercoaster ride of the why, how, who and what of human love. Using the latest evidence from neuroscience, genetics, psychology and physiology she will explain how love in the many forms we experience it evolved as a form of biological bribery, how it is both a universal and highly personal sensation, and how it is perhaps the greatest factor in our health and longevity. Love sits at the centre of what it is to be human. Join us to find out why. Anna Machin, evolutionary anthropologist, writer and broadcaster Find out more ALL ONLINE EVENT TICKETS INCLUDE: Live lecture lasting 60 minutes including speaker Q&A  On-demand access to a recording of the talk and Q&A for 12 months Bonus New Scientist content articles and video content relevant to the talk topic Find out more and book your ticket Facebook Twitter Instagram This email has been sent to submitpostforlive@gmail.com UNSUBSCRIBE from the New Scientist Events emails   MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT to select which emails you receive PRIVACY POLICY CONTACT US   Disclaimer This message is intended only for the use of the person(s) ("Intended Recipient") to whom it is addressed. It may contain information which is privileged and confidential. Accordingly any dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message or any of its content by any person other than the Intended Recipient may constitute a breach of civil or criminal law and is strictly prohibited. If you are not the Intended Recipient, please contact the sender as soon as possible.   We and our third party service providers may use cookies and other web technologies in conjunction with this email. These technologies are used to understand activity with this email and on certain portions of our website. This enables us to improve our site, your experience on our site, and the offerings that we may provide to you. If you do not want these technologies placed on your device, please opt-out of receiving emails from us. Copyright New Scientist Registered Office: New Scientist, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, Kensington, London, W8 5TT Registered in England under Company No. 10644366 Australian mailing address: PO Box 2315, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012, Australia Registered in Australia under ABN 22 621 413 170