A species is defined as the group within which pairs can breed to produce a fertile offspring. So a horse and a donkey are separate species since when they interbreed to produce an ass, the latter is infertile. A genus is a race within which there can be many species. A horse, donkey and Zebra belong to the same genus called Eqqus.* Humans belong to the genus Homo; contemporary humans have the genus Homo and species Sapiens, hence the term Homo sapiens, a species that is about 200,000 years old.
*although this definition of species does not explain how homo sapiens and neanderthals, which are from different species, managed to interbreed and inherit each other's genetic information.
In 2013, another species about 2,500,000 years old was discovered in South Africa, Homo naledi in the Maropeng caves. This is the story of Homo naledi, based on fifteen individuals covering the whole of the age range. A truly remarkable discovery.
![]() The journey |
![]() After landing in Johannesburg on Sunday, dropping bags at Bela Bela, Professor Johan Westraadt took Harry to see the "Cradle of Humankind" and the Maropeng caves. |
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![]() Professor Johan Westraadt at the entrance of the exhibition site, a building with a planted roof. |
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![]() Harry. A beautiful day, bright sunshine, clear skies. |
![]() The discovery by Rick Hunter and Steven Tucker, who were on a mission to find fossils. |
![]() The challenge of the Dinaledi caves. |
![]() Search for people who could navigate the excavation. |
![]() The six females who succeeded in qualifying for the subsequent excavation. |
![]() The excavation. |
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![]() The scientific analysis. |
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![]() The bones of some 15 individuals were meticulously recorded and collected for study. |
![]() After many hypotheses, including the absence of signs of violence, it was concluded that the site represented a place where dead bodies were placed. |
![]() Artist's impresson of the disposal of a dead member of the species. |
![]() Lasedi Chamber, more Homo naledi. |
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![]() Our past is like that of any other mammal. |
![]() We are blind robots designed to preserve our genes. |
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![]() Lucy is a member of the Australopithecus genus, i.e. differenct from the Homo genus. There are striking similarities between the Australopithecus and Homo genera, such as the upright posture and bipedal movement. Australopithecines have smaller brains. Lucy is some 3.2 million years old, but on the 6th of December 2017, an almost complete skeleton of "Little Foot", also found at Sterkfontein, was identified as being older at about 3.7 million years old. |
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![]() Stromatolites, formed originally from bacteria that created the first oxygen on earth by photosynthesis. Video explaining this statement. |
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![]() Now 2-4 million years ago. |
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![]() Nelson Mandela's handprints. |
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![]() On the way to Pretoria |
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![]() Professors Charles Siyasiya (University of Pretoria), Harry (University of Cambridge), Johan (Nelson Mandela University) and Roelf Mostert (University of Pretoria) at an Indian Restaurant on Sunday evening. |
![]() On Monday at the University of Pretoria (founded in 1894). Here, Harry was able to log on seamlessly to the internet using "eduroam". |
![]() The Bainite symposium was held in the Department of Plant Sciences. |
![]() Two keen participants who had accessed the on-line materials. |
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![]() Professor Mostert introducing the symposium. Harry gave four talks (mechanism of bainite, bainitic rails, bainite in ballistic applications and modelling of phase transformations, with discussion in-between. |
![]() Harry with Professor Johan van Rooyen, who he met in 1987 and refers to his work in Bainite in Steels |
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![]() An ostrich. |
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![]() Huge numbers of birds at the water pool. |
An early morning start from Johannesburg to Port Elisabeth, with a breakfast smoothie at the airport.
Professor Robert Knutsen of Cape Town University took Harry for a walk on Table Mountain, followed by a visit to the Botanical Gardens.
![]() Photograph of Table Mountain from Harry's hotel room. |
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![]() Robert Knutsen |
![]() Harry Bhadeshia |
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![]() At the Botanical Gardens |
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![]() The canopy snake. |
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![]() Snow, at 0653, Cambridge, Sunday 10th December. |
![]() The BBC is always right. |
![]() Snow |
![]() Snow |
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