S.B. Feldman wrote:
> Check out Feature Article: Who Were the Neandertals?
> http://www.earthsky.com/Features/Articles/neandertals.html
Thank you for this amusing and nice written reference.
The description of neanderthal physique ...

>Would you recognize a Neandertal man if he
>walked down the street? From a distance, you'd
>see a short, stocky, heavily-built man. He has a
>large head, short arms and legs. As he strolls
>towards you, you notice that his head is long and
>somewhat flattened at the top, not domed like
>yours. He has large feet and hands. His face
>reveals a large nose, small chin, low forehead,
>and small cheekbones. Most prominent,
>however, are the protruding brows over each
>eye. He appears very muscular and has an
>almost barrel-like chest.

..reminded me of a
scientist i heard in the local radio talking about his theory,
I'd just like to report to you (noting more intended).

Well, he thinks to have found that humans had 3 main
"out of africa" events..
1.homo erectus (who has been found in many parts of the world)
2.homo neanderthalensis
3.anatomically modern humans (us)

Why did they leave anyway? Since it was seemingly not harsher,
and enough food was found there.
Well - according to his theory -
it were the mosquitos with their danger of deseases,
which forced humans to leave their area - exately in the
periods of increased humidity - ice age - ideal for mosquitos.

All this because the human spleen (the organ) has -like with horses-
a purpose different from other animals.
Other animals have the spleen to detoxify the blood whereas
horses and humans use it as a blood reservoir, when running.
(I always wondered what that organ was good for).

Well and horses had a different approach against the mosquitos:
they developed stripes and became zebras.
These stripes should irritate the insects' facette eyes, so that it
can't find the zebra (or less efficiently).
Bringing normal horses to africa was reported to have failed.

And humans left the worm africa and headed for cold ice age europe
to escape the mosquitos.
Well, better, because without the danger of deseases their
reproduction and survival chances were better...

And then, the 3rd wave of humans (Cro Magnon) at last was successful
enough to conquer the rest of the world - and staying - up to now.

What do you think?

I think it's a little funny - but maybe there is a point with it.

Next time outside in the evening  i might consider to wear a zebra

t-shirt or dress or paint stripes on the body..
test if it works. :-)

regards

Amadeus

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