Each generation can learn more than the last, but we can never know everything, which is an inevitable feature of the human experience. Around every corner, there’s something new to discover, whether it’s a curiosity or a mind-blowing revelation. No matter how much we understand, the Earth is still full of mysteries.

Researchers who reveal ancient life discoveries, such as the “dragon man,” help rewrite history. As satellites orbit this globe, we learn more about our little corner of the world. As they peek beyond our solar system, astronomers are uncovering the secrets of the cosmos. Here is an incredible story that has changed our minds this year.

Say hello to the dragon man, the newest member of our species and a newly found early human race. The cranium was unearthed in northeastern China at the bottom of a well and is thought to be between 138,000 and 309,000 years old. Homo longi had a combination of archaic features including a wide nose and low brow, as well as Homo sapiens’ flat and delicate cheekbones. You’d notice the dragon guy has a big face, deep eyes, large fangs, and a brain that’s roughly the same size as yours if you met him. The discovery of this fossil is altering the history of human evolution.