The Elusive Theory of Everything
Physicists have long sought to find one final theory that would unify all of physics. Instead they may have to settle for several
Evolution6782 articles archived since 1845
How Crocs Came to Rule the Water's Edge
Adrenaline-fueled studies of the bite forces of crocodiles and their relatives reveal secrets of the group’s evolutionary success
New Evidence Fuels Debate over the Origin of Modern Languages
Nomadic horse riders likely opened a “steppe bridge” between Europe and Asia, but recent genetic data raise more questions
Human Echolocators Use Tricks Similar to Bats
People who use echolocating mouth clicks to compensate for low vision increase the number and intensity of clicks when objects are harder to detect. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Animal Coloration Can Serve Double Duty
The cinnabar moth caterpillar's coloration pattern warns predators close up, but camouflages the critter from a distance.
How People Talk Now Holds Clues about Human Migration Centuries Ago
Researchers are analyzing dialects and historical records to unravel the formation of a Creole language
Human Ancestors Had the Same Dental Problems as Us--Even without Fizzy Drinks and Sweets
They probably experienced dental abrasion similar to what is found today from eating tough and surprisingly acidic fibrous foods
A New Type of Tardigrade Just Turned Up in a Parking Lot
This micro-creature was found on a small piece of moss in Japan
Some Lichen Fungi Let Genes Go Bye
A study of 22 different types of lichens revealed 10 included fungi that had lost a gene for energy production, making them completely dependent on their algal partner.
Scientists Have Reconstructed the Genome of a Bird Extinct for 700 Years
The work hinged on DNA from a museum specimen
Food for Thought: Was Cooking a Pivotal Step in Human Evolution?
The dietary practice coincided with increases in brain size, evidence suggests
How Baby Birds Learn to Duet
Recordings of songbird duets reveal baby birds learn conversational turn-taking like we do: gradually, and from adults. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Cave Paintings Clinch the Case for Neandertal Symbolism
Abstract images in Spanish caves date back 65,000 years—millennia before Homo sapiens set foot in Europe—settling a long-running debate over Neandertal cognition
Mosquitoes Learn the Smell of Danger
The bloodsuckers lose their appetite for attractive scents when they associate those aromas with a likelihood of being swatted. Karen Hopkin reports.
Beetle Liberation Due to Regurgitation
The bombardier beetle can spray its hot brew of toxic chemicals even after bring swallowed, to force a predator into vomiting it back out.
Prehistoric Wine Discovered in Inaccessible Caves Forces a Rethink of Ancient Sicilian Culture
The samples represent the oldest vino found in Europe or the Mediterranean region
Boat Noise Means Fish Can't Learn Their Lessons
Damselfish had trouble learning to avoid predators, when that lesson was accompanied by a soundtrack of buzzing boat engines. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Debate Blooms over Anatomy of the World's First Flower
Some researchers say statistical prediction of the ancestral blossom yielded an unlikely structure
Why Do Birds Get Divorced?
For blue tits, timing can be a factor in whether they remain together or part ways
Killer Whale Culture Revealed by Mimicking Us
Orcas can imitate calls from other whales and even human speech—suggesting they can transmit cultural practices, such as unique dialects. Christopher Intagliata reports.
