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Ancient Humans Used Ochre Sunscreen to Survive UV Crisis

4/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Over 40,000 years ago, Homo sapiens ingeniously used ochre as sunscreen and crafted tailored clothing to shield themselves from heightened UV radiation during the Laschamps excursion, a time when Earth's magnetic field faltered. These clever adaptations likely played a crucial role in their survival, while Neanderthals, without such strategies, ultimately faced extinction.

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Story summary

Over 40,000 years ago, Homo sapiens ingeniously used ochre as sunscreen and crafted tailored clothing to shield themselves from heightened UV radiation during the Laschamps excursion, a time when Earth's magnetic field faltered. These clever adaptations likely played a crucial role in their survival, while Neanderthals, without such strategies, ultimately faced extinction.