Ancient Dogs Had Complex Genetic Histories
Some dog population genetics show similarities to ours, such as in the ability to digest grains, but other lineages differ.
Evolution11743 articles archived since 1845
The Evolutionary Origins of Friendship
The emergence of this crucial kind of relationship relied on the ability to recognize the unique benefits others have to offer
The World’s Oldest Animal Paintings Are on This Cave Wall
Depictions of pigs found in Indonesia date back at least 45,500 years
Dire Wolves Were Not Really Wolves, New Genetic Clues Reveal
The extinct giant canids were a remarkable example of convergent evolution
Humans May Have Befriended Wolves with Meat
Unlike humans, wolves can subsist on protein alone for months—so scientists say we may have lobbed leaner leftovers their way. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Dog Domestication May Have Begun because Paleo Humans Couldn’t Stomach the Original Paleo Diet
Unable to digest large amounts of protein, hunters likely left scraps that could have led to the taming of wolves
Ancient Peruvian Farmers Harnessed El Niño Floodwaters
Structures diverted the weather pattern’s floods to new farmlands 2,000 years ago
A Breakdown of Beavers
Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb talks about his book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.
Ravens Measure Up to Great Apes on Intelligence
Juvenile ravens performed just as well as chimps and orangutans in a battery of intelligence tests—except for assays of spatial skills. Christopher Intagliata reports.
The Real Dilophosaurus Would Have Eaten the Jurassic Park Version for Breakfast
The most comprehensive study of the iconic dinosaur reveals a very different animal from the one portrayed on film
Pterosaur Origins Flap into Focus
Fossils of small, delicate animals may reveal the early history of gigantic flying reptiles
Unprecedented 3-D view inside Animal Mummies
X-ray scans of ancient Egyptian cat, bird and snake mummies show details never seen before
When Same-Sex Mating Makes Reproductive Sense
Under the right circumstances, indiscriminate mating with both males and females can enhance animals’ evolutionary success
The Denisovans Expand Their Range into China
Evidence of the ancient humans was limited to a cave in Siberia. But now scientists have found genetic remains of the Denisovans in China. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Clues to Puebloan History Drip Away in Melting Ice Caves
Charcoal dating back nearly 2,000 years show the ancestral Puebloans used the ice for drinking water during droughts
Early Mammals Had Social Lives, Too
Chipmunklike animals that lived among the dinosaurs appear to have been social creatures, which suggests that sociality arose in mammals earlier than scientists thought. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Science News Briefs from All Over
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one, from the dormant volcano Llullaillaco in Chile, about a mouse that is the highest-dwelling mammal ever documented...
Dramatic Scope of the Anthropocene Can Be Seen from Above
Aerial photography highlights the effect humankind is having on the earth
Zebra Coloration Messes With Fly Eyes
Horseflies misjudge landings on zebra patterns, compared with solid gray or black surfaces, which provides evidence for why evolution came up with the black-and-white pattern.
Frog Vocals Lead to Small Preference
The concave-eared torrent frog's unusual ear anatomy lets it hear high-frequency calls, which gives a mating advantage to the littler males that sing soprano.
