Tuesday, September 7 at 8:00 p.m.
Becoming Human: Birth of Humanity
The program investigates the first skeleton that really looks like us — “Turkana Boy” — an astonishingly complete specimen of Homo erectus found by the famous Leakey team in Kenya. These ancestors are thought to have developed key innovations such as hunting, use of fire and extensive social bonds. NOVA examines a theory that it was long-distance running — our ability to jog — that was not only crucial for the survival of these early hominids on grasslands filled with vicious predators, but also gave them a unique hunting strategy: chasing and running down prey, such as deer or antelope, to the point of exhaustion. “Turkana Boy” also marks the first time in human evolution that there is strong evidence of an extended period of childhood and parenting.

Tuesday, September 14 at 8:00 p.m.
Becoming Human: Last Human Standing
The program investigates the first skeleton that really looks like us — “Turkana Boy” — an astonishingly complete specimen of Homo erectus found by the famous Leakey team in Kenya. These ancestors are thought to have developed key innovations such as hunting, use of fire and extensive social bonds. NOVA examines a theory that it was long-distance running — our ability to jog — that was not only crucial for the survival of these early hominids on grasslands filled with vicious predators, but also gave them a unique hunting strategy: chasing and running down prey, such as deer or antelope, to the point of exhaustion. “Turkana Boy” also marks the first time in human evolution that there is strong evidence of an extended period of childhood and parenting.