Humanity’s dominance on Earth stems from an extraordinary ability to cooperate flexibly in vast numbers; unlike other species, our large-scale cooperation relies on shared beliefs in abstract constructs such as nations, money, and human rights. These concepts do not exist objectively but thrive as collective stories we create and propagate, and the capacity to unify around imagined realities is arguably the most distinctive trait of our species and a cornerstone of human civilization.
Today, the global human population stands at 7.8 billion and is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050, according to the United Nations. Yet, approximately 70,000 years ago, our species faced a severe population bottleneck that nearly led to extinction.
Intrigued? Click on to learn more about the event that could've ended our species once and for all.