New study shows Neanderthal infants grew much faster than humans
最新研究顯示，尼安德塔人嬰兒的發育速度遠快於現代人類。
A recent study published in Current Biology has revealed that Neanderthal infants grew significantly faster than modern human infants.
近期刊登於《當代生物學》雜誌的一項研究顯示，尼安德塔人嬰兒的成長速度顯著快於現代人類嬰兒。
By examining the Amud 7 skeleton, a 51,000-year-old specimen found in Israel, researchers discovered a fascinating difference in development.
研究人員透過檢測一具在以色列發現、距今五萬一千年的「阿木德七」(Amud 7)骨骸，發現了發育上令人著迷的差異。
While the infant's teeth indicated it was only six months old, its skeletal size and bone development were equivalent to a human toddler aged 12 to 14 months.
雖然該嬰兒的牙齒顯示其年齡僅六個月大，但其骨骼大小與發育狀況卻相當於十二至十四個月大的人類幼童。
This pattern of accelerated growth was also observed in other Neanderthal specimens, confirming it was a common trait rather than an anomaly.
這種加速成長模式在其他尼安德塔人骨骸標本中也有所觀察，證實這是一種共同特徵而非異常現象。
Scientists believe this fast-growth strategy was an adaptation to the harsh, unpredictable environment of Ice Age Eurasia.
科學家認為，這種快速成長策略是適應冰河時期歐亞大陸嚴苛且難以預測環境的演化結果。
This extended development period allows for the complex brain growth and social learning that defines our species.
這段延長的發育期能夠容納複雜的大腦發育與社會學習，而這正是我們物種的定義性特徵。
While we prioritize a long, protected period of cognitive expansion, our Neanderthal relatives prioritized physical robustness and speed.
儘管我們優先重視長期且受保護的認知擴張階段，但我們的尼安德塔親戚卻優先考量身體的強健度與速度。
