Evolution
Evolution Could Explain Why Psychotherapy May Work for Depression
Persistent rumination may be an attribute that lets us think our way out of despair—a process enhanced through talk therapy
Evolution11787 articles archived since 1845
Evolution
Neandertalized ‘Mini Brains’ Yield Clues to Modern Human Uniqueness
Experiments on clusters of cultured cells hint that a gene variant found only in Homo sapiens profoundly changed brain development in our species, compared with our extinct relatives...
Cancer
How Evolution Helps Us Understand Cancer and Control It
Cells need to cooperate to coexist in people, and when some break the rules, cancer results
Evolution
Ancient Dogs Had Complex Genetic Histories
Some dog population genetics show similarities to ours, such as in the ability to digest grains. But other lineages differ.
Evolution
The Evolutionary Origins of Friendship
The emergence of this crucial kind of relationship relied on the ability to recognize the unique benefits others have to offer
Culture
The World’s Oldest Animal Paintings Are on This Cave Wall
Depictions of pigs found in Indonesia date back at least 45,500 years
Evolution
Dire Wolves Were Not Really Wolves, New Genetic Clues Reveal
The extinct giant canids were a remarkable example of convergent evolution
Evolution
Humans May Have Befriended Wolves with Meat
Unlike humans, wolves can subsist on protein alone for months—so scientists say we may have lobbed leaner leftovers their way. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Evolution
Dog Domestication May Have Begun because Paleo Humans Couldn’t Stomach the Original Paleo Diet
Unable to digest large amounts of protein, hunters likely left scraps that could have led to the taming of wolves
Environment
A Breakdown of Beavers
Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb talks about his book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter.
Cognition
Ravens Measure Up to Great Apes on Intelligence
Juvenile ravens performed just as well as chimps and orangutans in a battery of intelligence tests—except for assays of spatial skills. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Evolution
The Real Dilophosaurus Would Have Eaten the Jurassic Park Version for Breakfast
The most comprehensive study of the iconic dinosaur reveals a very different animal from the one portrayed on film
Evolution
Pterosaur Origins Flap into Focus
Fossils of small, delicate animals may reveal the early history of gigantic flying reptiles
Evolution
Unprecedented 3-D view inside Animal Mummies
X-ray scans of ancient Egyptian cat, bird and snake mummies show details never seen before
Evolution
When Same-Sex Mating Makes Reproductive Sense
Under the right circumstances, indiscriminate mating with both males and females can enhance animals’ evolutionary success
Evolution
The Denisovans Expand Their Range into China
Evidence of the ancient humans was limited to a cave in Siberia. But now scientists have found genetic remains of the Denisovans in China. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Evolution
Clues to Puebloan History Drip Away in Melting Ice Caves
Charcoal dating back nearly 2,000 years show the ancestral Puebloans used the ice for drinking water during droughts
Evolution
Early Mammals Had Social Lives, Too
Chipmunklike animals that lived among the dinosaurs appear to have been social creatures, which suggests that sociality arose in mammals earlier than scientists thought. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Biology
Science News Briefs from All Over
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one, from the dormant volcano Llullaillaco in Chile, about a mouse that is the highest-dwelling mammal ever documented...
Evolution
Dramatic Scope of the Anthropocene Can Be Seen from Above
Aerial photography highlights the effect humankind is having on the earth
