ArtifactResearch Infographic
How Our Brains Grew Over 7 Million Years
Cranial capacity comparison across 8 hominid species — from Sahelanthropus tchadensis (350 cc) to Homo sapiens (1,350 cc), with Homo naledi as the outlier that challenges the linear growth narrative.
Template
Research Infographic
Design System
Subject-derived
Published
March 9, 2026
Director
Zev Uhuru
Method
AI-Directed · Research, Visualization
Model
nano-banana-2
Source Quality
5 Tier-1
Citation-First
Yes
Dimensions
1376 × 768
Color Palette
Deep Black#0A0A0A
Bone Ivory#E8DCC8
Brain Amber#D4883A
Fossil Grey#8A8477
Key Sources
Seven Million Years: The Complete Visual History of Our Kind — esy.com/essays/science/seven-million-yearsTurkana Boy: The First Modern Body — esy.com/essays/science/turkana-boyLucy: Before the Genus Homo — esy.com/essays/science/lucyHomo naledi: The Small-Brained Species That Buried Its Dead — esy.com/essays/science/homo-nalediHuman Evolution, Visualized — esy.com/essays/history/human-evolution
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Key Data
- Species shown8
- Time span7 million years
- Smallest brain350 cc (S. tchadensis)
- Largest brain1,450 cc (Neanderthal)
- The outlierH. naledi — 500 cc at 300 ka
More in Human Evolution
Source Visual Essays
The research behind this infographic
