Human beings evolved under the sun. Sunlight was a constant in people’s lives, warming and guiding them through the days and seasons. Homo sapiens spent the bulk of our prehistory and history outside, mostly naked. Skin was the primary interface between our ancestors’ bodies and the world.

Is this bonobo cuddling a pet, or did this mongoose become a meal? Wildlife photographer Christian Zeigler captured this moment during his time in the field with researchers at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project, a Leakey Foundation-supported field site in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The photograph was shortlisted for the British Natural History Museum’s prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. 

In parts of Africa, a small bird called the Greater Honeyguide helps people search for honey. It approaches and chatters and flies in the direction of a wild bees’ nest, urging the person to follow. This relationship may date back to up to 1.5 million years ago when hominins are thought to have gained control of fire.