Part 3/13:
Humans stand out among species primarily because of our tool-making ability. From Paleolithic stone tools to modern machinery, technological innovations have profoundly shaped our evolutionary path. The capacity for fine motor control, complex planning, and social learning in our brain—especially in the prefrontal cortex—enabled us to develop tools that expanded our diet, improved our efficiency in hunting, and allowed us to adapt to varied environments.
Fire and Cooking: mastery over fire was a game-changer, enabling us to cook food, which increased its caloric value and decreased our digestive burden. These changes in diet led to physical adaptations like smaller jaws and teeth and possibly influenced social structures.