Almost Human

This first-person narrative about an archaeological discovery is rewriting the story of human evolution. A story of defiance and determination by a controversial scientist, this is Lee Berger's own take on finding Homo naledi, an all-new species on the human family tree and one of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century. In 2013, Berger, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, caught wind of a cache of bones in a hard-to-reach underground cave in South Africa. He put out a call around the world for petite collaborators—men and women small and adventurous enough to be able to squeeze through 8-inch tunnels to reach a sunless cave 40 feet underground. With this team of "underground astronauts," Berger made the discovery of a lifetime: hundreds of prehistoric bones, including entire skeletons of at least 15 individuals, all perhaps two million years old. Their features combined those of known prehominids like Lucy, the famousAustralopithecus, with those more human than anything ever before seen in prehistoric remains. Berger's team had discovered an all new species, and they called it Homo naledi. The cave quickly proved to be the richest prehominid site ever discovered, full of implications that shake the very foundation of how we define what makes us human. Did this species come before, during, or after the emergence of Homo sapiens on our evolutionary tree? How did the cave come to contain nothing but the remains of these individuals? Did they bury their dead? If so, they must have had a level of self-knowledge, including an awareness of death. And yet those are the very characteristics used to define what makes us human. Did an equally advanced species inhabit Earth with us, or before us? Berger does not hesitate to address all these questions. Berger is a charming and controversial figure, and some colleagues question his interpretation of this and other finds. But in these pages, this charismatic and visionary paleontologist counters their arguments and tells his personal story: a rich and readable narrative about science, exploration, and what it means to be human.

“Alternately joyous and heartbreaking...” —Jane Goodall A moving and revealing biography of Norway’s most famous chimpanzee. Julius is a national celebrity, the inspiration behind pop hits and bestselling books. He’s also a chimpanzee, born in captivity, but raised in a zookeeper’s home after his own mother rejects him. Julius’s new parents change his diapers and comfort him when he has nightmares, and their daughters play with him. But soon they must reintroduce Julius to the zoo, a challenging task that brings new learnings on primate behavior and the dangers of animal celebrity. Alternately humorous and heartbreaking, Almost Human shows that primates are more like us than we once thought possible. It also charts the transformation of one zoo over time: from a small operation of animals behind bars to a fast-growing attraction coming to terms with twenty-first-century views on animal rights and welfare.

"In the same way that Jane Goodall's pioneering study of chimpanzees revealed their likeness to humans, Strum's work shows how, contrary to the popular image and the scientific evidence of the time, the more distantly related baboons are just as socially savvy.

No human being is perfect. But suppose we were able to create machines which are like humans only better? Cleverer, more beautiful, more empathetic, more rational....

A remarkable, intense portrait of the robotic subculture and the challenging quest for robot autonomy. The high bay at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University is alive and hyper night and day with the likes of Hyperion, which traversed the Antarctic, and Zoe, the world’s first robot scientist, now back home. Robot Segways learn to play soccer, while other robots go on treasure hunts or are destined for hospitals and museums. Dozens of cavorting mechanical creatures, along with tangles of wire, tools, and computer innards are scattered haphazardly. All of these zipping and zooming gizmos are controlled by disheveled young men sitting on the floor, folding chairs, or tool cases, or huddled over laptops squinting into displays with manic intensity. Award-winning author Lee Gutkind immersed himself in this frenzied subculture, following these young roboticists and their bold conceptual machines from Pittsburgh to NASA and to the most barren and arid desert on earth. He makes intelligible their discoveries and stumbling points in this lively behind-the-scenes work.

Can she see past the alien differences that leave them almost human? The only set of Xeno Sapien twins—Jett and Brax, were created from each other. They balance each other. They can't live without each other. But they were also created to destroy each other. The first time they see Heather, an unusual new human employee, they decide they can't live without her. Heather was born different—a throwback redhead in a world of brunettes. Surely she would know what it's like not to fit in? And fit in, the twins don't. The scientists who created them depended on their alien attributes over their human DNA—for what better way to get them to fight to the death? Heather Marlow had an ultimate goal. Apply at Xenia, steal a real, live Xeno Sapien for ransom money, and rescue her grandmother in one fell swoop. But things went awry. After being captured for her crime, the twins get their wish. She won't be allowed to live without them. * The story behind the series: When futuristic Earth finds alien DNA and creates a new species of hybrids in hidden labs, Dr. Robyn Saraven helps the "creatures" escape. She uses her connections to establish their own city on Earth-Ground where they can learn, grow, and avoid the corruption and greed that created them. * ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Hot! Hot! Hot!! "Waited for this story and it was just as amazing as I had hoped!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I love all the books in this series, but I really loved this one!" The Genetically Altered Humans Series: Book 1—Xeno Sapiens Book 2—Earth-Ground Book 3—Siren Book 4—Beast's Beauty Book 5—Almost Human Book 6—Forbidden Touches Book 7—Coveting Ava Book 8—For Everly Book 9—Assassin's Mate Book 10—Sextet Book 11—Tempting Tempest Book 12—Falling For Trance Book 13—Damaged Goods Book 14—Alien's Bride Book 15—Dual Lives Book 16—Reson's Lesson Book 17—A Mate For Max Book 18—Dragon's Mate Book 19—Fated "Waited for this story and it was just as amazing as I had hoped!"

This is D. A. Goodrich's third chapbook, a little darker and more provocative than the first two. This one deals with terror, cruelty, disease, inhumanity and torture. Enjoy!

Award-winning author Gutkind immersed himself in the robotic subculture and makes intelligible their discoveries and stumbling points in this lively behind-the-scenes work. Includes 15 illustrations.