Natural selection has long been considered the driving force behind human evolution.
But a landmark study of 87 fossil skulls spanning the past two million years suggests the story is far more complex than scientists once thought.
Researchers found that the evolution of larger brains and smaller faces in the human lineage cannot be explained by natural selection alone.
Instead, they say random genetic variation, biological constraints and cultural innovations all played key roles, with some of the biggest evolutionary leaps occurring when those constraints were lifted.
The team believes advances such as improved tool use, greater reliance on animal foods and eventually cooking
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