Asocial Octopuses Become Cuddly on MDMA
Octopuses react to MDMA much like humans do. And not surprisingly, given their anatomy, the animals are excellent huggers. Annie Sneed reports.
Evolution6857 articles archived since 1845
Saber-Toothed Cats May Have Roared Like Lions
Small throat bones from the prehistoric feline Smilodon suggest it used fearsome vocalizations to communicate
Wild Songbirds Can Pick Up New Tunes
Researchers taught two dozen wild sparrows new songs, by playing them the recordings of sparrows that live thousands of miles away. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Health Care Let Neandertals "Punch above Their Weight"
By caring for their sick and injured, Neandertals were able to expand into more dangerous environments and pursue more deadly prey. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Why Diving Tectonic Plates Get Stuck 400 Miles beneath Earth's Surface
The hitch, likely only a temporary one, could be linked to certain volcanic features
Solar Eclipse Was a Buzzkill for Bees
Bees suddenly fell silent when the sun disappeared during last year's solar eclipse—perhaps because they were tricked into night mode. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mom's Genes Make Some Giraffes Hard to Spot
Baby giraffes inherit aspects of their mothers' patterning—which could give them a survival advantage if good camouflage runs in the family. Christopher Intagliata reports.
What Linguistics Can Tell Us about Talking to Aliens
Linguist Sheri Wells-Jensen explains the pitfalls in our assumptions about extraterrestrials
World's Simplest Animal Reveals Hidden Diversity
The first animal genus defined purely by genetic characters represents a new era for the sorting and naming of animals
The Inner Life of Cats
If you have ever wondered why your cat behaves the way it does, wonder no more
Better Living through Evolution: Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Frances Arnold, George Smith and Gregory Winter shared the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for using evolutionary principles to create highly efficient enzymes and antibodies, with numerous practical applications.
Indonesian Tsunami Was Powered by a Deadly Combo of Tectonics and Geography
The magnitude 7.5 earthquake that touched off the tsunami occurred amid a complex puzzle of tectonic plates
Mammals Shrink When Humans Migrate In
Where humans migrate, mammals become smaller
Nobel in Chemistry for New and Useful Chemical Entities via Evolutionary Principles
Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Gregory P. Winter share the 2018 chemistry Nobel for developing evolutionary-based techniques that lead to the creation of new chemical entities with useful properties.
Scanning Ancient Civilizations from the Skies
An aerial laser scan of more than 800 square miles of Guatemalan jungle revealed Maya buildings, canals, roads and bridges. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cats May Have Duped Us about Being Great Rat Catchers
Breweries, warehouses and waste facilities sometimes turn to cats for rat control—but do they really help?
Say Hello to Dickinsonia, the Animal Kingdom's Newest (and Oldest) Member
Half-billion-year-old fossils reveal new details about one of the most mysterious chapters in Earth’s history
Sea Otters' Powerful Paw Prey Perception
The marine mammals have extraordinarily sensitive touch—which helps them nab prey in the absence of other sensory cues. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Genetic Tweak Gave Early Humans a Leg Up
A mutation in a key gene may have endowed humans with superior endurance—allowing them to compete better with other animals on the savanna. Christopher Intagliata reports.