A new species of ancestor is changing our theory of human evolution

["Most of the characteristics we use to define our genus ... are no longer valid. "]( [Read online]( [TED]( This week on TED.com March 2, 2019 [Talk of the week]( [Juliet Brophy: How a new species of ancestors is changing our theory of human evolution]( 11:23 minutes · Filmed Mar 2018 · Posted Mar 2019 · TEDxLSU In 2013, a treasure trove of unusual fossils were uncovered in a cave in South Africa, and researchers soon realized: these were the remains of a new species of ancient humans. Paleoanthropologist Juliet Brophy takes us inside the discovery of Homo naledi, explaining how this mysterious ancestor is forcing us to rethink where we come from -- and what it means to be human. [Watch now »]( [Playlist of the week]( [TED deep cuts, vol. 3]( Sometimes, good things get a little buried in our archive of 3,000+ TED Talks. Check out some great ones, unearthed for your viewing pleasure. [Watch »]( 15 TED Talks to browse • Total run time 3:12:16 [This week's new TED Talks]( Lindy Lou Isonhood grew up in a town where the death penalty was a fact of life, part of the unspoken culture. But after she served as a juror in a capital murder trial -- and voted "yes" to sentencing a guilty man to death -- something inside her changed. In this engaging and personal talk, Isonhood reflects on the question she's been asking herself in the 25 years since the trial. [Watch »]( The transistors that power the phone in your pocket are unimaginably small: you can fit more than 3,000 of them across the width of a human hair. But to keep up with innovation, we need to pack ever more computing power into our computer chips -- and we're running out of space. In this forward-thinking talk, technology developer Karl Skjonnemand introduces a new plan. [Watch »]( What is a border? It's a line on a map, a complex place where cultures mix and merge in beautiful, sometimes violent and occasionally ridiculous ways. And a border wall? An overly simplistic response to that complexity, says architect Ronald Rael. In a moving, visual talk, Rael reimagines the physical barrier that divides the United States and Mexico -- sharing satirical, serious works of art inspired by the borderlands that show the border we don't see in the news. [Watch »]( Farida Nabourema has dedicated her life to fighting the military regime in Togo, Africa's oldest autocracy. She's learned two truths along the way: no country is destined to be oppressed -- and no country is immune to dictatorship. But how can you tell if you're at risk before it happens? In a stirring talk, Nabourema shares the four key signs of a dictatorship, along with the secret to defiance for those living within an oppressive system. [Watch »]( [Read more on ideas.ted.com]( [It’s not politics or religion separating humans from each other; it’s shame.]( Media theorist Douglas Rushkoff asks us to break the cycle of internet shouting and find connection around our shared humanity. [Read more »]( [Idea: Take an intentional walk.]( Try these five strategies to step out of your routine and wake up to the life around you. [Read more »]( [Quiz: Is your inner perfectionist ruining your life?]( You might not realize how much perfection is getting in the way of your freedom and your joy. [Read more »]( [FROM the comments ...]( [“]( Simple and profound. If we consider the data as a point of consideration (and acknowledging that every study and point of view has flaws), we can't not reflect on how the principles of this study can impact our quality of life.” [Commenter: Jon Yeo Talk: Robert Waldinger What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness]( [Join us in the comments in March]( Today we're discussing Adam Grant's insights about givers and takers at work. [Do you have a work story]( share?]( [TED Radio Hour: Luck, Fortune and Chance]( What makes someone lucky? Can luck be controlled, is it random, or is it based on something else entirely? This hour, TED speakers explore ideas about why some people seem so much luckier than others. Listen on [Spotify]( [iTunes]( [Google Podcasts]( or wherever you get your podcasts. You are receiving this email because you've subscribed to our mailing list. We also send out [daily emails]( if you can't get enough of us. We love you too. Copyright © 2019 TED, All rights reserved. You're receiving the TED Talks weekly newsletter because you subscribed to it on TED.com. (Was this forwarded by a friend? You can sign up here: ) Our mailing address is: TED 330 Hudson Street 12th FloorNew York, NY 10013 [Add us to your address book]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( [view email in browser](