Evolution

Seven complete specimens of 100-million-year-old flower found preserved in amber

A new study proposes that all dinosaurs shared a basic lung anatomy which may have given them an evolutionary edge

Octopuses react to MDMA much like humans do. And not surprisingly, given their anatomy, the animals are excellent huggers. Annie Sneed reports.

Small throat bones from the prehistoric feline Smilodon suggest it used fearsome vocalizations to communicate  

Researchers taught two dozen wild sparrows new songs, by playing them the recordings of sparrows that live thousands of miles away. Jason G. Goldman reports.

By caring for their sick and injured, Neandertals were able to expand into more dangerous environments and pursue more deadly prey. Christopher Intagliata reports. 

A new analysis asks whether eating plants or different ways of breathing influenced the shape of dinosaur hips

The hitch, likely only a temporary one, could be linked to certain volcanic features

Bees suddenly fell silent when the sun disappeared during last year's solar eclipse—perhaps because they were tricked into night mode. Christopher Intagliata reports. 

A new study of Sarahsaurus revises what paleontologists thought about how long-necked herbivores showed up in North America

Baby giraffes inherit aspects of their mothers' patterning—which could give them a survival advantage if good camouflage runs in the family. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Linguist Sheri Wells-Jensen explains the pitfalls in our assumptions about extraterrestrials