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Is There Really Such a Thing as a Normal Human?

Posted

September 22, 2025

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Neil deGrasse Tyson and Hermann Pontzer discuss whether there is such a thing as a “textbook average human.” Pontzer explains that human diversity in anatomy, genetics, and physiology makes the idea of a “normal” human meaningless. From dissecting bodies in anatomy labs to studying populations in Africa, Pontzer shows that variation is the rule, and Neil emphasizes that averages are misleading because no individual actually matches them. Together, they highlight that diversity—not uniformity—is the essence of humanity.

From 'AdaptibilityHumanity’s Superpower, with Herman Pontzer'

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Is There Really Such a Thing as a Normal Human? · Startalk Plus · Sentinel