Human

## Humans

### Environment

Moderate Climate ~20°C, though some subspecies are adapted to warmer or colder climates

## Behavioural Information

### Social Structure

Closely-Linked and Expansionist

―Quarin's remarks about humans as a species

**Humans** - ***Homo sapiens sapiens*** -are sentient bipedal primates originally from the planet Earth. Compared to other species, humans are relative newcomers to the galactic stage, having only developed space travel a few hundred years ago and interstellar travel with the aid of other races. Nonetheless, they have expanded to become one of the dominant races in the Settled Systems and are widely considered one of the most successful carbon-based lifeforms in intergalactic history. Humans have two known subspecies - Martians and Terrans - but have widely adapted to the vast range of planets across the settled systems that they have colonized, so much so that many modern-day humans have drastically different genomes than those of their Earth-dwelling ancestors. As of the 55th Century, humanity is the most populous spacefaring race in intergalactic history.

## History

### Evolution

*Homo sapiens* are a sapient species of bipedal hominid descended from the Great Apes of Earth. The genus *Homo* evolved on the continent of Africa, and the first species to leave the continent was *Homo erectus*, which evolved into the now-extinct *Homo neanderthalensis*, while another population, *Homo ergaster*, stayed in Africa and evolved into *Homo sapiens*, before spreading all across the world. Humans very quickly became the dominant species of the planet.

## Habitat & Population

Early human settlements were dependent on proximity to water and - depending on the lifestyle - other natural resources used for subsistence, such as populations of animal prey for hunting and arable land for growing crops and grazing livestock. Modern humans, however, have a great capacity for altering their habitats by means of technology, irrigation, urban planning, construction, deforestation, desertification and terraforming. Human settlements continue to be vulnerable to natural disasters on various worlds. Grouping and deliberate habitat alteration is often done with the goals of providing protection, accumulating comforts or material wealth, expanding the available food, improving aesthetics, increasing knowledge or enhancing the exchange of resources.

Humans are one of the most adaptable species in the Settled Systems, despite having a narrow tolerance to many extreme environments. Through invention, humans have been able to extend their tolerance to a wide variety of temperatures, humidity, and altitudes. As a result, humans are a cosmopolitan species found on almost all types of planets and biomes, including tropical, arid, extremely cold arctic, and heavily polluted worlds. Beginning in the mid-20th Century, humans have explored challenging environments across the Settled Systems. Human habitation within these hostile environments is restrictive and expensive, typically limited in duration, and restricted to scientific, military, or industrial expeditions.

Estimates of the human population as of the 55th Century vary wildly, but most come to around 20% of the total population of the Settled Systems, an area that encompasses twelve major galaxies, numerous satellite galaxies and unmapped human colonies. The Confederacy of the Great Attractor alone records a human population of 55% of its 55 septillion inhabitants spread across five secured major galaxies; this value alone projects that the human population is far higher than any other spacefaring race, thanks in part to their genetic diversity and extraordinarily high birth rate.

Humans have had a dramatic effect on the intergalactic environment. They are apex predators, being rarely preyed upon by other species. Human population growth, industrialization, land development, overconsumption and combustion of fossil fuels have led to environmental destruction and pollution that significantly contributes to the ongoing mass extinction of other forms of life. Humans often face prosecution from other races due to their vast environmental impact across the Settled Systems.

## Biology

### Physiology and Genetics

Humans have fairly robust physiology. Their internal makeup and reproductive processes are typical of most bipedal mammals, and their size and proportions give the appearance of being strong, fast and agile. Humans can live to about 180 years, and recent medical advances have eradicated almost all known diseases that afflict them. Humans reach physical maturity at approximately eighteen years of age, at which point they have usually finished their academic education and either directly enter the workforce or begin training for a profession.

Humans metabolize organic carbon-based compounds using oxygen as the principle electron-acceptor in this metabolism. They use water as their solvent and their internal fluid is slightly basic compared to pure water. Other prominent elements include nitrogen and phosphorous as both are used in abundance in their double-helixed genetic material (DNA).

It has been noted that humans are unusual in the intergalactic community because they have far greater genetic diversity compared to other species. Despite the substantial genetic diversity of humans, certain physical traits have been becoming rarer ever since the 19th and 20th centuries, when the mixing of different Earth ethnicities, due to social progression and acceptance, became more commonplace. To this end, with the merging of genetics, certain traits have declined in frequency. Humans typically take 9 months to gestate in the womb, a far shorter period than other races, meaning that entire colonies can expand and populations replenished in a matter of years; this trait is one of the primary reasons for humanity being the most populous spacefaring race by the 55th Century, with their birth rate being much higher than any other spacefaring race.

Humans have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to cross-breed with other races - or at least with those that possess similar biochemistry and reproductive systems - and produce fertile offspring; races that humans are successfully able to breed with include mavnians (often considered the best match to human physiology, being carbon-based, possessing a similar evolutionary path, and their adaptive reproductive system), tarsi, and croytians.

Humans are considered rare examples of widely successful carbon-based life; some of the most dominant races under the government of the Federated Galactic Alliance are silicon-based forms of life, including the gekoids, a race that is considered to be the most successful and naturally intelligent race in both the Milky Way and Andromeda.

### Anatomy

Humans are vertebrates with a tough endoskeleton composed of protein strengthened by calcium compounds. Their brains and the majority of their sensory organs reside in the skull, which rests atop their shoulders. On their two arms and two legs are generally five digits. Humans have lost the majority of their hair as they evolved, with most of it remaining on the head and crotch, with certain, usually male, individuals having large amounts of hair across the rest of the face and body.

## Culture

Humans are generally seen to be very intelligent, abnormally ambitious, highly adaptable, individualistic and thus, unpredictable. They have a powerful desire to advance and improve themselves and do so with such assertion that the normally staid Council races have been taken aback by their restlessness and relentless curiosity.

An interesting quirk of humans is how their opinions, personalities, and morals vary widely from person to person. They have more varied intelligence than the average species, with a far wider curve relative to most. Humans are most commonly known for their expansionist and risk-taking attitude, which has propelled them to garner a lot of influence in the intergalactic stage. Compared to other species, humans are very much more hostile and resilient. Many species were known to be intimidated or avoidant of humans, since they are fairly war-like.

## References

1. ↑ Habitat UN (2013). *The state of the world's cities 2012*