Evolution

The fossil of an ancient squid relative tells paleontologists something new about the reptile that tried to feed on it

Journalist and author Peter Brannen talks about his book The Ends of the World: Volcanic Apocalypses, Lethal Oceans, and Our Quest to Understand Earth’s Past Mass Extinctions.

Stunning new fossil reveals that at least one Cretaceous slime mold—an “intelligent” giant amoeba—looks identical to one alive today

The sites are rich in cultural history, but the blazes might also reveal some unknown ones, say archaeologists

Some wolf pups will play fetch with a stranger, suggesting that an ability to playfully interact with people could have come before, and played a role in, dog domestication.

The cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii boosts curiosity in mice—which makes them more likely to be caught by cats, thus continuing the parasite’s life cycle. Karen Hopkin reports.

A fossil penguin wing found in Antarctica has broader implications for what dinosaurs looked like

A new study finds that music and some other human phenomena have altered at a pace comparable to that of animals such as Darwin’s finches

The remora clings to other fish—and appears to use an unusual sense of touch to do so. Christopher Intagliata reports. 

Ancient drought and unfortunate bathroom habits may have doomed some ice age sloths

Soil bacteria may have taken residence in early algal species, gifting the algae with the ability to withstand drier conditions on land. Annie Sneed reports.

Hunted areas of Gabon have fewer large mammals and a thicker forest understory—but they also have fewer termites. Jason G. Goldman reports.