Archive · 24 Jun 2025
Study: Early Humans Faced Near-Extinction 900,000 Years Ago
Scientists discovered that our early human ancestors almost went extinct about 900,000 years ago.
The population shrank to only about 1,280 people who could have babies, and this lasted a very long time.
Researchers studied the genes of people alive today to learn about the past.
They believe that a cold and dry period in Africa, called the mid-Pleistocene transition, made it difficult for early humans to survive.
This difficult period may have even led to a new kind of human.
Thankfully, humans eventually recovered, and now there are over eight billion people in the world.
A study reveals early humans nearly went extinct around 900,000 years ago.
The human population dropped to 1,280 reproducing individuals for 117,000 years.
Scientists used genetic data from modern humans to trace population history.
The population collapse aligns with a gap in the fossil record.
Climate change in Africa, due to the mid-Pleistocene transition, is a likely cause.
- Who
- Early human ancestors, possibly leading to a new type of human.
- What
- Early humans nearly went extinct with only 1,280 reproducing individuals.
- When
- Approximately 900,000 years ago, lasting for 117,000 years.
- Where
- Primarily Africa.
- Why
- Likely due to a colder, drier climate in Africa during the mid-Pleistocene transition.
- Study Publication
- Science
- Population Bottleneck
- 1,280 reproducing individuals
- Duration
- 117,000 years
- Modern Human Genomes Used
- 3,154
- Cause
- Mid-Pleistocene climate changes