Evolution
One Fish, Two Fish, Fish Can Count(ish?)
New research shows—again—that fish “count” like humans do. Are our cognitive evolutionary roots fishier than we thought?
Newly Discovered Turtle Ancestors Chomped With Beaks But Bore No Shells
A 228-million-year-old fossil fills gaps in the tale of turtle evolution—and raises a few questions
Tracing Alfred Russel Wallace’s Footsteps Through the Jungles of Borneo
A biologist treks to the site where the little-known naturalist penned a paper on evolution that would spur on a rivalrous Charles Darwin
How Accurate Is the Theory of Dog Domestication in 'Alpha'?
The "boy and his dog" tale is a piece of prehistoric fiction, but scientists are uncovering the true origins of our incredible relationship with dogs
Rare Desert Pterosaur Fossil Discovered in Utah
The rare Triassic fossil is the most complete early pterosaur ever found, and gives new insight into the evolution of the first flying vertebrates
Cancer Is One Worry Elephants Can Feel Free to Forget
The gentle giants' cells contain a tumor-fighting self-destruct button.
Mysterious, Plant-Like Fossil May Have Been One of the Earliest Animals
New research suggests that soft-bodied organisms called Ediacarans may have been related to an animal of the Cambrian era
Meet the Fish That Grows Up in Just 14 Days
The turquoise killifish, which lives in ephemeral pools in Mozambique, progresses from embryo to sexual maturity faster than any other vertebrate
Birds Can Learn "Foreign" Languages to Stay Safe
The superb fairywren was able to learn a new alarm call just by listening to the warnings of other species
How Amazon Rivers Play a Role in the Evolution of Birds
Rivers are natural boundaries for evolving populations. But scientists don't agree whether they create new species or just help maintain them.
Lizards With Bigger Toes and Smaller Hind Legs Survive Hurricanes
A serendipitous study comparing the physical traits of lizards before and after 2017's hurricane season shows natural selection in action
This Is Your Brain on Fatherhood
What clownfish stepfathers and Dad-of-the-Year foxes teach us about paternal neurochemistry in the animal kingdom
Did the Human Hand Evolve as a Lean Mean Bone-Smashing Machine?
Of nearly 40 things Pleistocene people might have done with their hands, getting to yummy marrow requires the most force and dexterity
The Most Massive of Dinos Evolved Earlier Than Previously Thought
A Triassic giant unearthed in Argentina suggests that dinosaurs took the path to greatness at least twice
Five Real Life Wasp Superpowers Not in <i>Ant-Man and the Wasp</i>
Bees tend to get all the attention, but Marvel turns the spotlight on one of nature’s most devious masterminds
The Earliest Mammals Kept Their Cool With Descended Testicles
But if free-swinging sperm sacs are the norm, then why did undescended ones evolve four separate times?
Alternatives to Heterosexual Pairings, Brought to You By Non-Human Animals
No one quite has this sex thing figured out, but these non-binary animals have some good ideas
Neanderthals Hunted in Groups, One More Strike Against the Dumb Brute Myth
The skeletons of deer killed 120,000 years ago offer more evidence of cooperative behavior and risk-taking among our hominin relatives
Why Bioluminescence Evolved to Be Red Light, and Blue
The laws of nature constrict living light to a few hues, which also happen to be quite patriotic
Actually, T. Rex Probably Couldn't Stick Out Its Tongue
The tongues of bird-like dinosaurs and pterosaurs, however, may have been more mobile
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