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Planet Of The Killer Apes

Planet Of The Killer Apes

Update: 2019-11-271
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In Apartheid-era South Africa, a scientist uncovered a cracked, proto-human jawbone. That humble fossil would go on to inspire one of the most blood-spattered theories in all of paleontology: the “Killer Ape” theory. 


According to the Killer Ape theory, humans are killers—unique among the apes for our capacity for bloodthirsty murder and violence. And at a particularly violent moment in U.S. history, the idea stuck! It even made its way into one of the most iconic scenes in film history. Until a female chimp named Passion showed the world that we might not be so special after all.

Comments (1)

Joe A. Finley II

Interesting commentary. A good follow-up to how humans are unique in our abilities to cooperate, both good and bad, is our abilities to "de-cooperate," that is, cause unnecessary illness and death through deliberate inaction and/or wanton disregard for others' well-being: secondhand smoking; idling SUVs outside of schools; anti-masking and anti-vaccination movements related to COVID-19.

Mar 2nd
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Planet Of The Killer Apes

Planet Of The Killer Apes

Science Friday and WNYC Studios

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