From Harper’s September Findings:
A study of 3.3 million years of stone tool production suggested that cumulative culture emerged among humans 600,000 years ago.
Gee. Since I don’t have recollections that far back, I did a search (“what kind of humans existed 600,000 years ago?”) and discovered that, yes! There were sorts of humans back then, specifically “Homo heidelbergensis.” They had brains, some communication and tools.
Then I asked “what is cumulative culture”? Seems simple and logical but nowadays I’m taking nothing for granted. So…
Cumulative culture refers to the process by which cultural traits, including behaviors, technologies, and knowledge, are transmitted and improved upon over multiple generations. This phenomenon allows humans to accumulate and build upon previous innovations, resulting in increasingly complex and effective cultural adaptations.
That was then. What about now? The last item in these Findings is…
Manned missions to Mars would cause irreversible kidney damage.
You understand me, yes? You know who I’m getting at?