Extreme cold may have nearly wiped out human ancestors 900,000 years ago
Ancestral populations rebounded by about 100,000 years later, a contested DNA analysis suggests
![The skull of a member of the Homo heidelbergensis species sits on a podium in a museum.](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/083123_bb_pop_crash_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Modern human DNA indicates that human ancestors may have brushed up against extinction starting around 900,000 years ago before bouncing back and possibly evolving into Homo heidelbergensis, a species represented by the African fossil skull shown here.
RYAN SOMMA/FLICKR (CC BY-SA 2.0)