A genetic study published in Science suggests ancient human ancestors nearly went extinct about 900,000 years ago.
Researchers found the breeding population may have dropped to around 1,280 individuals, a decline of nearly 99%.
The bottleneck reportedly lasted about 117,000 years, likely driven by extreme climate changes during the Pleistocene.
Despite the harsh conditions, early humans survived and eventually repopulated the planet.
A genetic study published in Science suggests ancient human ancestors nearly went extinct about 900,000 years ago.
Researchers found the breeding population may have dropped to around 1,280 individuals, a decline of nearly 99%.
The bottleneck reportedly lasted about 117,000 years, likely driven by extreme climate changes during the Pleistocene.
Despite the harsh conditions, early humans survived and eventually repopulated the planet.