The Human Nose Knows More Than We Think
A look at the body of olfactory science shows people’s reputation for having a poor sense of smell is a myth
Evolution6612 articles archived since 1845
The Extraordinary Evolution of Cichlid Fishes
Cichlid fishes have undergone a mind-boggling degree of speciation. New research is revealing features of their genomes that primed them to diversify so spectacularly
Fixing the Tomato: CRISPR Edits Correct Plant-Breeding Snafu
Geneticists harness two mutations to improve on 10,000 years of tomato domestication
Watch This Parrotlet Nail a Long Jump
This palm-size parrot uses a touch of wing to leap from branch to branch so it can save energy as it looks for dinner or a mate.
Bees Prefer Flowers That Proffer Nicotine
Bumblebees sought out flowers with nicotine in their nectar, and the drug appeared to enhance the bees' memories. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bronze-Age "Beaker Culture" Invaded Britain, Ancient-Genome Study Finds
Famous bell-shaped pots are associated with a group of immigrants who may have displaced Neolithic farmers
Why the Cross Put Chickens on a New Road
A religiously inspired change in the European diet about a thousand years ago led to the development of the modern domesticated chicken.
Wild Foxes Can Be Transformed into Pets in a Few Generations
To test ideas of animal domestication, a bold experiment in Siberia put evolution on a fast track
Field Study: Worms Leave 'Til No-Till
Earthworm numbers doubled in fields after farmers switched from conventional plowing to no-till agriculture. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Killer Whales Are Speciating Right in Front of Us
Killer whales appear to be splitting into several separate species, perhaps because cultural differences among populations are driving them apart
Fossil of Oldest-Known Baleen Whale Relative Unearthed in Peru
Skeleton from South America enables paleontologists to piece together the puzzle of baleen whale evolution
New Dinosaur Resembles Ghostbusters Monster Zuul
The new ankylosaurus fossil is one of the most complete ever found in North America
Insects Donate DNA to Unrelated Bugs
Bacteria swap DNA among themselves. And that process may be more common in multicellular organisms than previously believed. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Origins of Male Domination May Lie in Food
Chemical signatures left behind in the bones of people living thousands of years ago suggest that the introduction of new commodities provided an opportunity for men
New Evidence of Mysterious Homo naledi Raises Questions about How Humans Evolved
The much-anticipated dating of the enigmatic species, along with stunning new fossils, challenge key assumptions about human evolution
Gophers versus the Volcano
Pocket gophers survived the Mount Saint Helens eruption in their underground burrows and immediately went to work bringing back the ecosystem.
Genes Explain Even Rube Goldberg–Like Homes of Many Creatures
The homes that animals build are just as much a product of evolution as the creatures themselves
Human Noise in U.S. Parks Threatens Wildlife
Sounds of traffic and industry invade over half of protected areas
Bizarre, Giant Birds Once Ruled the Skies
Fossils of enormous extinct seabirds are now illuminating how such behemoths took wing
Take the Tube: Underground as a Way of Life
Emory University paleontologist, geologist and ichnologist Anthony J. Martin talks about his new book, The Evolution Underground: Burrows, Bunkers and the Marvelous Subterranean World beneath Our Feet.
