An ancient ancestor of humans may have changed its face in order to survive.

A researcher at Florida State took part in an international study of an ancient relative of modern humans that lived more than two million years ago.

The study found the facial structure of this ancestor evolved to allow them to eat large seeds and nuts to possibly survive a massive climate change on the earth.

Dennis Slice, an Associate Professor with the FSU Dept. of Scientific Computing says, "Other evidence suggests that this was not what they ate on a day-to-day basis, but it was very important sometimes for their survival. So much so that it affected the shapes of their faces."

The researchers used computer models to come up with the findings, and they plan to continue their work and refine their hypothesis.