What a flimsy creature is a human. We have no claws, pathetic blunt teeth and soft skin. We can't fly unaided, we're poor swimmers and we can't even run very fast.
And yet we've managed to occupy nearly every corner of the planet, and some beyond.
While a complete answer to this would require an entire book, we can give a few pointers, divided into external and internal factors.
We've already given a clue to the internal factors: although humans are not particularly strong swimmers, fast runners or great climbers compared to other animals, we can do them all to varying degrees. We're not bad at climbing and we can swim if we need to. On land, we are one of the fastest animals over long distances. Our hands are superbly evolved for manipulating objects, and not even apes can match our dexterity.
When it comes to exploiting niches, we can - and do - eat almost anything, animal, vegetable or insect.
The trick however, is that in many cases we can do this by preparing food. Raw potatoes are near inedible but, with cooking, they become a wholesome food.
This points to a deeper reason behind our success - we are the ultimate adaptable species. Ironically, this versatility is something we least admire in our arch-competitors. The creatures we call vermin are also supreme survivors in diverse environments.
Of course, behind all this are our oversized brains. While we are still learning about the surprising intelligence of other animals and their feats of tool-making, none come anywhere near our creative problem solving.
Less obvious is our exceptional ability to cooperate. Regardless of what neoliberal thinking suggests, with social behaviours, we can achieve vastly more than would be possible as uncoordinated individuals, acting purely in 'self interest'. This is greatly amplified by the power of speech and writing that allows us to communicate across time and space.
There are a couple of crucial 'external' factors also at play. The first is an extraordinary period of climate stability over the past 10,000 years or so. By providing a predictable environment for agriculture, the Holocene has allowed civilisations to develop. Without it, we would not have the highly productive systems now in place.
Another is cheap, abundant fossil fuels that have powered every facet of the economy.
Unfortunately, our success also threatens our downfall. Of the total biomass of all mammals, humans plus domesticated livestock account for 96 per cent while wild mammals account for only 4 per cent.
As Malthus observed in 1798, any species will increase until it over-exploits its environment, then crashes. As we approach 8 billion people, we are systematically dismantling the Earth's biological and climate systems.
If ever there was a need for adaptable intelligence, now is the time.
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