{
  "id": 1773950,
  "title": "How the Human Pelvis Evolved to Make Walking Upright Possible",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/how-the-human-pelvis-evolved-to-make-walking-upright-possible",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T18:43:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/08/18/pelvic-changes-enabled-early-humans-walk/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Researchers at Harvard have discovered two critical developmental shifts that enabled early humans to walk upright, a transformation that played a pivotal role in human evolution, according to a study published in the journal Nature. The findings, led by evolutionary biologist Terence Capellini, shed light on how these changes facilitated more efficient movement and childbirth, fundamentally altering human history. The study, which examined early developmental processes in both humans and other primates, highlighted two key adaptations in the pelvis. First, there was a rotation in pelvic cartilage during early development, which reshaped the ilium—the upper portion of the pelvis—making it shorter, broader, and more curved. This anatomical change enhanced stability and balance while walking on two legs. Second, a delay in the bone-hardening process allowed the newly formed pelvis to fully develop and adapt to the demands of upright walking, a crucial step in accommodating larger-brained infants. Lead author Gayani Senevirathne emphasized that these changes were not due to a single gene but rather a network of over 300 genes that regulated gene expression during early growth. Fossil evidence from ancient human ancestors, such as Ardipithecus ramidus and Australopithecus afarensis (often known as \"Lucy\"), supports these findings, showing gradual advancements in pelvic structure that mirror those of modern humans. By around 1.6 million years ago, the cumulative effects of these genetic and developmental changes allowed for both efficient upright walking and the birth of offspring with larger brains, marking a significant milestone in human evolution.",
  "summary": "A team of Harvard researchers has uncovered key biological changes that likely enabled early humans to walk upright—an evolutionary leap that helped shape the course of human history. The study, released this week in the journal Nature, reveals how two important developmental changes in the human pelvis made standing and walking on two feet possible. […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Harvard researchers identified two critical developmental shifts in pelvis evolution.",
    "Pelvic cartilage rotation reshaped ilium for stability and balance.",
    "Delayed bone-hardening facilitated pelvis development for larger-brained infants."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}