Evolution
How Scientists Discovered the Staggering Complexity of Human Evolution
Darwin would be delighted by the story his successors have revealed
Evolution11788 articles archived since 1845
EARTH
Some Dinosaurs Probably Nested in Arctic
The finding of a baby dinosaur fossil in the Arctic implies that some dinos nested in the region, which was milder than today but not toasty.
Evolution
Red Stalagmites Reveal Glimpses of the Past
In a cave in northern Spain, stalagmites rich in organic matter are environmental record keepers
Evolution
Buried Skeletons Reveal Tsunami Threat in East Africa
Newly analyzed remains depict the scope of a devastating event
Evolution
How Birds Evolved Their Incredible Diversity
An analysis of 391 skulls shows that birds evolved surprisingly slowly, compared with their dinosaur forerunners
Evolution
Prehistoric Marine Reptile Died after a Giant Meal
Researchers found extra bones within a 240-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil—which they determined to be the ichthyosaur’s last, possibly fatal meal. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Conservation
Cows with Eye Images Keep Predators in Arrears
Butterflies, fish and frogs sport rear-end eyespots that reduce predation. Painting eye markings on cows similarly seems to ward off predators.
Environment
Warbler Species Fires Up Song Diversity
Hermit warblers in California have developed 35 different song dialects, apparently as a result of wildfires temporarily driving them out of certain areas.
Evolution
A 429-Million-Year-Old Trilobite Had Eyes like Those of Modern Bees
A rare cracked fossil shows the world through ancient eyes
Evolution
The World’s Highest-Dwelling Mammal Lives atop a Volcano
Scientists spotted a mouse at the summit of Llullaillaco, a 22,000-foot-tall volcano on the border of Chile and Argentina. Julia Rosen reports.
Fitness
The Chance of Identical Fingerprints: 1 in 64 trillion
Originally published in June 1894
Space & Physics
Translucent Frog Optics Create Camo Color
Rather than undergoing active chameleonlike color changes, glass frogs’ translucency allows light to bounce from their background and go through them—making their apparent color close to their setting...
Evolution
How Do Scientists Determine the Ages of Human Ancestors, Fossilized Dinosaurs and Other Organisms?
Experts explain how radiometric dating allows them to reconstruct ancient time lines
Evolution
Humans Evolved to Be Friendly
Cooperation made Homo sapiens the last human species standing
Evolution
One Mystery of Stonehenge’s Origins Has Finally Been Solved
Detailed testing of the chemical signature of the Neolithic monument’s most prominent large stones pinpointed where they came from
Evolution
When the First Farmers Arrived in Europe, Inequality Evolved
Forests gave way to fields, pushing hunter-gatherers to the margins—geographically and socially
Space & Physics
Science News Briefs from around the Planet
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one about how a lizard population responded to hurricanes by developing larger and stickier toe pads on average...
Culture
Old Art Offers Agriculture Info
Art museums are filled with centuries-old paintings with details of plants that today give us clues about evolution and breeding practices.
Evolution
World’s Smallest Dinosaur Is Probably a Lizard
The paper that reported the animal’s discovery was retracted following new evidence from a similar fossil
Evolution
Controversial Cave Discoveries Suggest Humans Reached Americas Much Earlier Than Thought
Archeologists say stone artifacts point to occupation more than 30,000 years ago—but not everyone is convinced
