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All downhill from there (media.piefed.social)
submitted 6 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[-] [email protected] 32 points 6 days ago

The other advantage we have while running is that we're not constantly slamming our intestines into our other vital organs and lungs because we're upright.

Humans can out-distance a horse. A fucking HORSE. Incredible animal the oul' human.

[-] [email protected] 5 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Is that really a limiting factor for animals that are not upright? They have to stop going because their intestines slam into other vital organs, and they need a break, lest they get damaged?

[-] [email protected] 19 points 5 days ago

One big advantage is that we can run while breathing out of sync with our steps. Four legged running pretty much requires each inhale and exhale to sync with the compression and expansion of the torso with each stride. Humans, on the other hand, can run full speed while taking multiple steps per breath, depending on terrain and fatigue, which gives more options for pacing.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Interesting, that dynamic is in line with the 'radiator' theory of human brain evolution.

From a more recent article:

the shift to an aerobic, hunter-gatherer lifestyle in early Homo, including long-distance running, exerted selection pressures that favored both increased endurance and enhanced brain growth

Edit: ... so, we're not batteries. We're cooling fins.

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this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2025
1001 points (99.0% liked)

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