Editing Human (section)

{{Short description|Species of hominid in the genus Homo}}
{{hatgrp|{{Redirect-several|Human|Mankind|Humankind|Human Race|Human Being|Homo sapiens}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Human
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|0.3|0}} [[Chibanian]] – [[Holocene|present]]
| image = Akha cropped hires.JPG <!--The choice of image has been discussed at length. Please don't change it without first obtaining consensus. See FAQ on talk page. Also used at Akha people (section Dress)-->
| image_caption = Male (left) and female (right) [[adult]] humans
<!--T| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1-->
| taxon = Homo sapiens
| authority = [[Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| range_map = World Population Density Map 2020.png
| range_map_caption = ''Homo sapiens'' population density (2020)
| synonyms =
}}
'''Humans''' ('''''Homo sapiens''''') or '''modern humans''' are the most common and widespread [[species]] of [[primate]], and the last surviving species of the genus ''[[Homo]]''. They are [[Hominidae|great apes]] characterized by their [[Prehistory of nakedness and clothing#Evolution of hairlessness|hairlessness]], [[bipedality|bipedalism]], and high [[Human intelligence|intelligence]]. Humans have large [[Human brain|brains]], enabling more advanced [[cognitive]] skills that facilitate successful adaptation to varied environments, development of sophisticated [[tool]]s, and formation of complex [[social structures]] and [[civilization]]s. 

Humans are [[Sociality|highly social]], with individual humans tending to belong to a [[Level of analysis|multi-layered]] network of distinct [[social groups]] — from [[families]] and [[peer groups]] to [[corporations]] and [[State (polity)|political states]]. As such, [[social interaction]]s between humans have established a wide variety of [[Value theory|values]], [[norm (sociology)|social norms]], [[language]]s, and [[traditions]] (collectively termed [[institutions]]), each of which bolsters human [[society]]. Humans are also highly [[curious]]: the desire to understand and influence [[Phenomenon|phenomena]] has motivated humanity's development of [[science]], [[technology]], [[philosophy]], [[mythology]], [[religion]], and other frameworks of [[knowledge]]; humans also study themselves through such domains as [[anthropology]], [[social science]], [[history]], [[psychology]], and [[medicine]]. As of 2025, there are estimated to be [[World population|more than 8&nbsp;billion living humans]].

For most of their history, humans were [[nomadic]] hunter-gatherers. Humans began exhibiting [[behavioral modernity]] about 160,000–60,000&nbsp;years ago. The [[Neolithic Revolution]] occurred independently in multiple locations, the earliest [[Origins of agriculture in West Asia|in Southwest Asia]] 13,000 years ago, and saw the emergence of [[agriculture]] and permanent [[human settlement]]; in turn, this led to the [[Cradle of civilization|development of civilization]] and kickstarted a period of continuous (and ongoing) [[population growth]] and rapid [[technological change]]. Since then, a number of civilizations have risen and fallen, while a number of [[Sociocultural evolution|sociocultural]] and [[History of technology|technological]] developments have resulted in significant changes to the human lifestyle. 

Humans are [[omnivorous]], capable of consuming a wide variety of plant and animal material, and have [[Control of fire by early humans|used fire]] and other forms of heat to prepare and [[cooking|cook]] food since the time of ''[[Homo erectus]]''. Humans are generally [[Diurnality|diurnal]], [[sleep]]ing on average seven to nine hours per day. Humans have had a dramatic [[Human impact on the environment|effect on the environment]]. They are [[apex predator]]s, being rarely preyed upon by other species.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Roopnarine PD |date=March 2014 |title=Humans are apex predators |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=111 |issue=9 |pages=E796 |bibcode=2014PNAS..111E.796R |doi=10.1073/pnas.1323645111 |issn=0027-8424 |pmc=3948303 |pmid=24497513 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Human [[population growth]], industrialization, land development, [[overconsumption]] and combustion of [[fossil fuels]] have led to [[environmental destruction]] and [[pollution]] that significantly contributes to the ongoing [[Holocene extinction|mass extinction]] of other forms of life.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 May 2019 |title=Landmark analysis documents the alarming global decline of nature |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/landmark-analysis-documents-alarming-global-decline-nature |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026232451/https://www.science.org/content/article/landmark-analysis-documents-alarming-global-decline-nature |archive-date=26 October 2021 |access-date=9 May 2021 |website=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |publisher=[[American Association for the Advancement of Science|AAAS]] |vauthors=Stokstad E}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Pimm S, Raven P, Peterson A, Sekercioglu CH, Ehrlich PR |date=July 2006 |title=Human impacts on the rates of recent, present, and future bird extinctions |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |volume=103 |issue=29 |pages=10941–10946 |bibcode=2006PNAS..10310941P |doi=10.1073/pnas.0604181103 |pmc=1544153 |pmid=16829570 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Within the last century, humans have explored challenging environments such as [[Antarctica]], the [[deep sea]], and [[outer space]], though human habitation in these environments is typically limited in duration and restricted to [[scientific]], [[military]], or [[Industry (economics)|industrial]] expeditions. Humans have visited the [[Moon]] and sent human-made spacecraft to other [[celestial bodies]], becoming the first known species to do so.

Although the term "humans" technically equates with all members of the genus ''[[Homo]]'', in common usage it generally refers to ''Homo sapiens'', the only [[Extant taxon|extant]] member. All other members of the genus ''Homo'', which are now extinct, are known as [[archaic humans]], and the term "modern human" is used to distinguish ''Homo sapiens'' from archaic humans. [[Early modern human|Anatomically modern humans]] emerged around 300,000 years ago in Africa, evolving from ''[[Homo heidelbergensis]]'' or a similar species. Migrating [[Recent African origin of modern humans|out of Africa]], they gradually replaced and [[Hybrid (biology)|interbred]] with local populations of archaic humans. Multiple hypotheses for the extinction of archaic human species [[Neanderthal extinction|such as Neanderthals]] include competition, violence, interbreeding with ''Homo sapiens'', or inability to adapt to climate change. [[Gene]]s and the [[Environment (biophysical)|environment]] influence [[human biology|human biological]] variation in visible characteristics, [[physiology]], disease susceptibility, mental abilities, body size, and life span. Though humans vary in many traits (such as genetic predispositions and physical features), humans are among the least genetically diverse primates. Any two humans are at least 99% genetically similar.

Humans are [[sex differences in humans|sexually dimorphic]]: generally, [[man|males]] have greater body strength and [[woman|females]] have a higher [[body fat]] percentage. At [[puberty]], humans develop [[secondary sex characteristic]]s. Females are capable of [[pregnancy]], usually between puberty, at around 12 years old, and [[menopause]], around the age of 50. [[Childbirth]] is dangerous, with a high risk of complications and [[death]]. Often, both the mother and the father provide care for their children, who are [[Precociality and altriciality|helpless at birth]].