Introduction: Regarding the origin of human beings and how life on earth evolved, human beings have been on the road of continuous exploration. But with our current knowledge, something is still puzzling. Next, the editor of Mindoss will reveal the top 10 mysteries of evolution that have not yet been solved. If you are interested, you may wish to read it together!
Top 10 Unsolved Mysteries Of Evolution
1. The Naledi
Denisovans aren't the only hominid species that evolution experts around the world have been studying. In 2013, the bones of another mysterious hominin family were found in a cave in South Africa. After extensive research, scientists are still not sure whether the newly discovered species, now dubbed Homo naledi, fit the plan for human evolution, as the fossils show an odd combination of traits from several different species.
2. The End Of Human Evolution
The debate over whether humans are still evolving is still ongoing. Some experts, including renowned British naturalist David Attenborough, believe that humans have stopped evolving, at least physiologically, because we are now able to keep even the weakest individuals of our species alive. According to this theory, we are no longer subject to Darwinian natural selection. But other scientists believe that human evolution is still continuing, so it seems only time will answer the question.
3. The Evolution of the Female Orgasm
It might seem odd, but "Why do women have orgasms?" baffled scientists for a while. Orgasm is not necessary for conception, and women can experience orgasm even when they are not having reproductive sex. While the answer to this question has never been answered by scientists, there are some theories. One of the theories is that orgasms are simply a remnant of evolution. Another theory holds that orgasm is related to ovulation, not reproduction.
4. Origin of Language
There is an ongoing debate about how and when human language began. Some scientists believe that human ancestors began to speak when their brains became sufficiently large and mature, while others believe that language evolved slowly, from the gestures and sounds used by our early ape-like ancestors.
5. Giant Panda
The giant panda, one of the world's most popular bear species, has baffled evolutionary scientists for years. The cuddly bears are ridiculed for their apparent absence of a bear-style vegetarian diet, their apparent lack of interest in sex, and the fact that they spend most of their time sitting, eating, and defecating (about 40 times a day). How it evolved over tens of thousands of years for such an animal to be so unsuitable for survival is unclear.
6. The Evolution Of Whales Is Reversed
The evolution of whales has always been a mystery. For a long time, scientists didn't know how these huge, big-brained, air-breathing, and warm-blooded mammals found their way into the ocean. We now know that it happened during a very unusual aquatic evolution, in which modern whales evolved from prehistoric land mammals. However, scientists have yet to discover why this strange evolutionary reversal occurs.
7. Using Tools For The First Time
There has been a long debate about when humans first used tools. For decades, the earliest known stone tools have been associated with their makers, Homo habilis, who are less than two million years old, but recent research suggests that our ancestors may have been using crude tools more than half a million years ago.
8. Longevity
It is well known that some animals, such as turtles, live very long. A giant tortoise named Jonathan is currently the world's oldest land animal at 184 years old. While scientists have noted that longevity is often associated with a slower metabolism, there is still debate as to why. Also, slow metabolism isn't the only reason some species live longer than others.
9. Tuskless Elephant
Scientists are surprised to find that a growing number of African elephants are being born without tusks. The reason for this strange phenomenon is thought to be the large-scale poaching of elephant ivory, which has been ravaging wild populations of African elephants. The absence of tusks may protect these animals from poaching, but it's unclear how the new generation of tuskless elephants will adapt to a life in which large mammals use their tusks to dig for food and water, self-defense, sexual displays, and more.
10. Archeopteryx
Not long after Darwin published his revolutionary book "The Origin of Species" in 1861, Archeopteryx was thought to be the first bird ever to live on Earth. However, modern research suggests that the iconic feathered creature (which lived 150 million years ago) was more of a dinosaur than a bird, pushing the bird's appearance back into more recent history. Some experts even think that Archeopteryx may represent the forefront of evolution.
Conclusion: After reading the top 10 mysteries of evolution that have not been solved by the editor above, I believe everyone has understood the mysteries of evolution. Scientists have never given up research on how humans and other animals evolved. It takes time to know more!