Contrary to perceived wisdom that humans have grown taller and larger, mankind is shrinking and people’s brains are also getting smaller, say experts.
A team at Cambridge University says that humans are past their peak and that modern-day people are 10 per cent smaller and shorter than their hunter-gatherer ancestors, the Daily Mail reported.
The decline, say the scientists, has happened over the past 10,000 years. They blame agriculture, with restricted diets and urbanisation compromising health and leading to the spread of disease. The theory has emerged from studies of fossilised human remains found in Africa, Europe and Asia. The earliest, from Ethiopia, date back 200,000 years, and were larger and “more robust” than their modern-day counterparts, Dr Marta Lahr, an expert in human evolution, was quoted as saying.
Fossils found in Israeli caves and dating from 1,20,000 to 1,00,000 years ago, reveal people who were tall and muscular, a pattern that continued uninterrupted until relatively recent times. An average person 10,000 years ago weighed between 12st 8lb and 13st 6lb. Today, the average is between 11st and 12st 8lb, according to their findings.
***
Jessica Biel, Colin Farrell together?
London: Recently single Jessica Biel has reportedly found solace in the arms of her co-star Colin Farrell during the shooting of their upcoming film Total Recall.
Biel, 29, who split with singer Justin Timberlake in March after fours years of courtship, was seen hanging out with the Irish actor during the remake of the action film in Toronto, reported Daily Mail online.
“Jessica loves Colin’s accent and personality. She’s completely over Justin, she’s having fun being single and thinks Colin is a blast. They’ve been hanging out between takes and Colin’s suggested they go out after work,” said a source.
The Illusionist star, who never runs short of male attention, was also linked with actor Gerard Butler during the filming of Playing The Field. —PTI