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Top 10 Hominid Discoveries of 2011
A look back at the year's most important and fascinating finds in the field of human evolution
December 28, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
Top Ten Science Blog Posts of 2011
Cats, zombies, earthquakes, chickens--our readers have an eclectic taste
December 28, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
How to Turn a Dinosaur Into a Bird
Two classic bits of animation beautifully visualized the evolution of birds from dinosaurs
December 28, 2011 |
By Brian Switek
What In The World Is An Echidna?
This spiky monotreme can be found in Australia and New Guinea
December 27, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
Huxley’s Apocryphal Dinosaur Dinner
Fossil lore says 19th century naturalist T.H. Huxley realized that birds were dinosaurs when he carved into a Christmas turkey, but what really happened?
December 22, 2011 |
By Brian Switek
The Human Evolution World Tour
Hominid enthusiasts can see the highlights of human evolution at evotourism destinations around the world
December 21, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
How Rudolph Keeps A Cool Head
Reindeer have several strategies for releasing heat when they get too hot
December 21, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
Hitchcock’s Primeval Birds
Paleontologist Edward Hitchcock was one of the first dinosaur track experts, but why did he insist that birds left the footprints?
December 19, 2011 |
By Brian Switek
Humans, the Honey Hunters
Energy-rich honey may have helped hominids evolve big brains
December 19, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
Some Spiders Have Brains in Their Legs
Just one more reason it's not nice to pull the appendages off of creepy crawlies
December 15, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The World’s Oldest Mattress
A 77,000-year-old grass mattress is the earliest bed in the archaeological record. What did earlier hominids sleep on?
December 14, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
Hominid Gifts for the Holidays
A human evolution T-shirt, necktie, coloring book and board game are just a few of the hominid-themed gifts you can give your loved ones this holiday season
December 12, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
The Secrets of a Shark Attack
In an attack against a Cape fur seal, a great white shark's advantage comes down to physics
December 12, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The City Bird and the Country Bird
As in Aesop's fable, there are advantages and disadvantages for birds living in the city
December 07, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The Mystery of the Missing Hominid Fossils
Seventy years ago, an important collection of "Peking Man" fossils disappeared in China. They are still missing today
December 07, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
Human Evolution’s Cookie Monster, Oreopithecus
For the past 60 years, scientists have argued over the enigmatic, human-like fossils of the nine-million-year-old Italian ape
December 05, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
The Columbines and Their Pollinators: An Evolutionary Tale
New research provides insight into an evolutionary concept introduced by Charles Darwin
December 02, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
For Dolphins, Pregnancy Comes With a Price
A bigger body means increased drag, slower speeds and greater vulnerability to predators
December 01, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The Sperm Whale's Deadly Call
Scientists have discovered that the massive mammal uses elaborate buzzes, clicks and squeaks that spell doom for the animal's prey
December 2011 |
By Eric Wagner
Strange Animal Models of Human Evolution
What do sea otters, wolves and capuchin monkeys reveal about our hominid ancestors?
November 30, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
