Evolution

Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from the United Arab Emirates about the the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country.

A titanosaur fibula hosts what looks like 70 tiny parasites

Jigsaw-puzzle-shaped seams that hold a notoriously tough insect’s wing cases together could inspire engineers

The mass-extinction asteroid happened to strike an area where the rock contained a lot of organic matter and sent soot into the stratosphere, where it could block sunlight for years.

From mammals to mollusks, animals living among humans lose their antipredator behaviors.

The ancestors of today’s dogs already exhibited some playfulness, which became a key trait during domestication.

Debate erupts over how best to estimate the sizes of the largest creatures ever to have walked the earth

A stretch of Neandertal DNA has been associated with some cases of severe COVID-19, but it’s unclear how much of a risk it poses. Christopher Intagliata reports. 

Humanity’s most recent common ancestor and so-called genetic isopoint illustrate the surprising connections among our family trees

Dancing, rowing and even finger tapping in unison unleash powerful forces in the brain that drive good feelings

The Lacandon Maya eluded the conquistadors and survived in the jungle for hundreds of years. Archaeological discoveries are revealing their past

An insect trapped in a precious gem points to new places to search for ancient life