New research has provided compelling evidence that *Sahelanthropus tchadensis*, a 7-million-year-old fossil commonly known as Toumaï, was capable of walking upright, significantly impacting the ongoing debate about the origins of human bipedalism. Discovered in Chad in 2001, the species has been central to discussions about when early hominins first stood on two legs. While initial analyses of the skull hinted at bipedalism, further studies, particularly on limb bones, yielded conflicting interpretations. The latest study, led by Scott Williams of New York University and published in *Science Advances* on January 2 or 3, 2026, re-examined the fossil's femur (thigh bone) and ulnae (forearm bones) using advanced 3D imaging and analytical techniques. Researchers identified a femoral tubercle, a distinct skeletal feature previously observed only in bipedal members of the human lineage, which serves as a crucial attachment point for a ligament vital for upright posture. Additionally, the analysis confirmed other anatomical traits consistent with bipedal movement, such as a specific twist in the femur and limb proportions that align more with early hominins than with apes. These findings suggest that *Sahelanthropus tchadensis* was an ape-like creature with a chimpanzee-sized brain that, despite likely spending considerable time in trees, also engaged in terrestrial bipedalism. This evidence places bipedalism much earlier in the human family tree, potentially at its very root. While some skepticism remains within the scientific community, the comprehensive analysis has undeniably reignited the contentious debate, offering the strongest support yet for Toumaï as the earliest known human ancestor to walk upright.