The amazing story of adaptation and survival in our species, Homo sapiens, is written in the language of our genes, in every cell of our bodies—as well as in the fossil and behavioral evidence. Explore the African origins of modern humans about 200,000 years ago and celebrate our species’ epic journey around the world in this video: “One Species, Living Worldwide".

One Species, Living Worldwide

Dr. Rick Potts talks about his research on early human adaptability to climate change in Africa and China.

Survivors of Changing Environment

Members of the Human Origins Program team describe what they do and how much they enjoy their work.

Love My Job

How can you tell if a rock is actually an early stone tool? Watch this video to find out.Note: This video is silent.

How can you tell if a rock is actually an early stone tool? Watch this video to find out. Note: This video is silent.

How To Tell a Rock from a Stone Tool

This video suggests how climate change has influenced human evolution over millions of years.Note: This video is silent.

This video suggests how climate change has influenced human evolution over millions of years. Note: This video is silent.

Climate Change and Human Evolution

A tiny hominin found on the island of Flores, Indonesia has shaken up the world of paleoanthropology. Human Origins scientist Matt Tocheri explains why.

Hobbits on Flores, Indonesia

This video shows how Homo erectus slowly expanded its range out of Africa and examines the different environments they encountered.Note: This video is silent.

This video shows how Homo erectus slowly expanded its range out of Africa and examines the different environments they encountered. Note: This video is silent.

Expanding World of Homo erectus

Members of the Human Origins Program team describe how they use cutting-edge technology in their scientific investigations.

New Technology for Old Fossils

Dr. Rick Potts provides a video short introduction to some of the evidence for human evolution, in the form of fossils and artifacts.

Evidence of Human Evolution

Briana Pobiner

Meet Briana Pobiner -- human origins researcher and educator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.Briana tells what it's like to be a human evolution expert, why it matters, and how she got here. Digging up early human and animal remains from the field in Africa, performing examination and publishing research about her findings, then enticing and educating the public about the implications are all in a week's work for Dr. Pobiner.

Meet Briana Pobiner -- human origins researcher and educator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Briana tells what it's like to be a human evolution expert, why it matters, and how she got here. Digging up early human and animal remains from the field in Africa, performing examination and publishing research about her findings, then enticing and educating the public about the implications are all in a week's work for Dr. Pobiner.

Meet Our Scientist: Briana Pobiner, Dietary Detective

Human Origins

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The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!