Evolutionary Biology

Fish evolution is tied to key moments in human history

Animal communication studies have shown only fixed vocalizations, such as alarm cries. But Bonobo chimps appear to have a call that has different meanings in different contexts

Adults of the west African Baka people and east African Efé and Sua peoples average less than five feet tall. But while the Efé and Sua are born small, the Baka have slow growth rates in infancy

Certain vaccines prevent sickness and death, but don't block transmission—meaning they may actually give some viral strains an extra shot at survival. Christopher Intagliata reports

An analysis of the acoustical characteristics of screams found that the sounds are unusually rough, that is, they rapidly change in frequency, which has an alarming effect on the listener's brain 

Glacial archaeologists scramble to save long-preserved specimens thawing out of vanishing ice before they are lost forever

The most unexpected beneficiary of the EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., in May 2011 was a fungus named Apophysomyces

"Hugging" creature from Brazil shakes up picture of snake evolution

The sea sapphire combines the brilliance of a morpho butterfly, the cuteness of copepod, and the cloaking skills of a Klingon Bird-of-Prey. But just how does it pull it off?

Recent research has shown that trees clean the air, and our feelings

An evolutionary arms race 500 million years ago seems to have unexpectedly caused today's gelatinous comb jellies to armor up -- and they weren't alone.