💡 The Last Hominin Standing

The latest from Nautilus, the best things we learned today, and more. [View in Browser]( | [Join Nautilus]( Did a friend forward this? Sign up here Together with Hello there Nautilus readers, and thanks for dropping by. Today, in a story illustrated by artist Mark Belan, we explore the possibility that one of the major drivers of our species’ emergence was competition among different hominin groups—a hypothesis that a wealth of new fossil data has helped to flesh out. Plus, we take a close look at the romantic entanglements of mysterious pygmy seahorses, and learn what’s special about a few plants that have been chosen for a mission to the moon. Also, some of the best things we learned today—our solar system’s future habitable zone, hidden Nazca line figures, and more. It was really lovely hearing from so many of you, in response to our last question, that the sound you find most relaxing, coming from an animal, is the sound of your pets soundly sleeping—a dog snoring or a cat purring. The noises my Pit-mix, Azula, makes during her dreams are an adorable comfort. But the most remarkable sound I’ve heard an animal make is the wail of the loon, which I heard for the first time camping in Quebec. Check out today’s question (on competing) and free story (on alien evolution) below. Be seeing you! — Brian Gallagher The latest from Nautilus The Last Hominin Standing A new theory argues humans evolved through competition. [Continue Reading→]( The Strange Romance of Seahorses A marine biologist and photographer gets up close and personal with mysterious pygmy seahorses. [Continue Reading→]( Will Plants Grow on the Moon? Three Earth plants will soon make a new home on the lunar surface. [Continue Reading→]( Don’t limit your curiosity. Enjoy unlimited ad-free Nautilus stories every month for less than $5/month. [Join now]( Start Speaking a New Language in 3 Weeks! Whether you’re studying abroad, dreaming of future travel, or just feeling the itch to learn something new this fall, now’s the time to start speaking a new language with [Babbel](. With just 5 minutes a day, you could start having actual conversations in 3 weeks! [Get 60% off today]( *Thank you for supporting our sponsors. The best things we learned today - At least 20 hominin species evolved over the last 6 million years. [Read on Nautilus→]( - When our sun turns into a “red giant” star, in about 5 to 6 billion years, the habitable zone in our solar system will move outward, near the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn, where the gas giants’ moons will have become water worlds. [Read on Space.com→]( - In their pregnancy, male seahorses even develop stretch marks—and don’t have to worry about paternity uncertainty. [Read on Nautilus→]( - Artificial intelligence has helped archaeologists discover hundreds more ancient geoglyph figures more than 10 feet long, dating back to 200 B.C., among the Nazca lines in southern Peru, that show various animals and even decapitated heads. [Read on The Guardian→]( - Flowering aquatic plants, like duckweed, could prove useful to people living in space, because they filter the water in which they grow, have no need to put down roots, and are nutritious to eat. [Read on Nautilus→]( WE ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW... What is your most memorable competitive experience? Send us your answer! Reply to this newsletter with a brief explanation of your response, and we’ll reveal the top answers in a future newsletter. This question was inspired by “The Last Hominin Standing.” [Read on Nautilus→]( Top answers to our previous question: On a Sound You Like That an Animal Makes I love lying in bed at night and listening to the barred owl call out. It’s even better if another responds. Something comforting about their mournful sound. – Susan P. I grew up on the Delmarva Peninsula; it has the Chesapeake Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Calls of different waterfowl, the lapping of waves against shores, and breezes that kiss cattails and marsh grasses were always comforting and familiar, but I get the addition of hearing the Chincoteague ponies when I would visit or go camping in the area. Hearing them crunching on the tough marsh grasses, snorting at the flies, and the occasional soft nicker is a treasure. Late spring is the best because most of the foals have been born; you’ll hear their adorable high pitched whinnies directed at each other or their mothers, and the mares’ soft, gentle nickers in response. It’s a beautiful, comforting melody that feels like a hug for your soul. – Lauren W. My favorite sound is that of the Australian lyrebird: We live on the fringe of national park and these birds mimic many of their neighbors: satin bowers, magpies, thrush, kookaburras, and occasionally even human sounds, such as chainsaws. Fascinating, lyrical, ancient, and wonderful to awaken to. – Lisa R. I find the purring of a cat a very soothing and relaxing feeling. It’s both the sound and the feeling. When my cat is laying on my stomach or chest and is purring, that feeling vibrates through my body and it makes me feel so calm. – Susan G. Sitting at a lake, watching the sunset, listening to the bullfrogs “ribbit, ribbit” their good night song. – Kelly M. As we have an eagles nest on our property here in Kodiak, Alaska, we enjoy the call of eagles and find a special sense of peace when we are blessed with hearing them. – Paul P. It is hard to beat starting your day by stepping outside and listening to a mourning dove greeting the dawn. – Bill R. Start Speaking a New Language in 3 Weeks! With daily lessons, podcasts, and games, [Babbel]( makes it fun and easy to learn. [Get 60% off today]( Today’s unlocked free story EVOLUTION Life Beyond Human Has to Play by the Rules A zoologist explains why complex life anywhere depends on natural selection. BY DAVID P. BARASH There are many ways to think about alien, extraterrestrial life forms. [Continue reading]( P.S. The Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi was born on this day in 1901. While he was walking to lunch one day, with colleagues at Los Alamos National Laboratory, a New Yorker cartoon showing aliens making off with New Yorkers’ trash cans was brought up to Fermi, and he suddenly (and famously) exclaimed, “Where are they?” Edward Teller, another one of the scientists, recalled, “The result of his question was general laughter because of the strange fact that in spite of Fermi’s question coming from the clear blue, everybody around the table seemed to understand at once that he was talking about extraterrestrial life.” [The Fermi paradox was born](. Thanks for reading! What did you think of today's note? Inspire a friend to [sign up for the Nautilus newsletter](. Copyright © 2024 NautilusNext, All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from [nautil.us](. Our mailing address is: NautilusNext 3112 Windsor Rd, Ste A-391 Austin, TX, 78703 Don't want to hear from us anymore? [Unsubscribe](