Australopithecus afarensis had an ape-like brain Contrary to previous claims, the brain imprints of A. afarensis were found to be ape-like, lacking key features that uniquely evolved in humans.

A new study published in Current Biology provides insights into the running abilities of Lucy, the 3.2 million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis whose discovery in 1974 has captivated scientists ...

A sculptor's rendering of "Lucy," Australopithecus afarensis, at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on August 28, 2007. Dave Einsel / Getty Images About 3.2 million years ago, among the ...

A 3D polygonal model, guided by imaging scan data and muscle scarring, reconstructing the lower limb muscles of the Australopithecus afarensis fossil AL 288-1, known as ‘Lucy’.

A sculptor's rendering shows what Australopithecus afarensis looked like 3.2 million years ago. Dave Einsel/Getty Images. Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter.

And her remarkable species, Australopithecus afarensis, may have been our direct ancestor. Our discoveries about Lucy have transformed our understanding of humanity's tangled family tree.

“Australopithecus afarensis would have roamed areas of open wooded grassland as well as more dense forests in East Africa around 3 to 4 million years ago.

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to ...

Australopithecus afarensis, the extinct species to which Lucy belongs, could probably straighten its knee joints, extend its hips and stand up straight like modern humans.

Australopithecus afarensis lived approximately 3.9 to 3 million years ago and was found primarily in East Africa. They were able to walk on two legs while retaining some typical tree climbing ...

Dr. Ashleigh Wiseman has 3D-modeled the leg and pelvis muscles of the hominin Australopithecus afarensis using scans of 'Lucy': the famous fossil specimen discovered in Ethiopia in the mid-1970s.

Johanson’s find became known as Lucy – named after the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds – a 3.2 million-year-old female skeleton that gave an unprecedented picture of her species ...