Selective Hearing

Humans already have the ability to direct their attention to specific things that they are hearing. This is known as “the cocktail party effect”, named for the scenario where it is particularly noticeable. (41) When at a cocktail party, surrounded by conversations, it is possible to “focus” on a specific conversation that catches your attention for whatever reason despite there being several others going on and all reaching your ear. The human ear has no physical mechanism for this; it's all done in the brain. But over time, this ability could become more important and advantageous. (42) Given how the internet and mainstream media has seemingly given every person the impression that they should air their opinion, no matter how ill informed, on any subject they wish, the ability to more effectively control the things you listen to will become beneficial. Rather than diverting attention to more relevant inputs, humans could develop the ability to actively “tune out” things they don't want to hear, like closing your eyes to block an unpleasant sight.

(43) Granted, people will end up less informed overall, but they'll be less stressed and angry in general, resulting in health benefits, longer lives and more pleasant manners, and thus making mating more likely. And so, the genes are favoured and spread.

Tentacles

Computer technology is becoming more and more commonplace in our daily lives (in the west at least). The most typical means of interfacing with this technology is via keyboard or touchscreen. (44) Our human hands are impressively dexterous and capable of numerous fine movements. But with the increasing need to use technical interfaces, our priorities are changing. (45) Evolution could push us towards developing digits that are more flexible than at present, taking a form that retains precision but loses rigidity, to give us a wider range and speed when typing or touchscreening, but retaining physical characteristics that make touchscreen use feasible. Our fingers could end up more like tentacles, perhaps like those on a sea anemone.