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Evolution news
Cells that are not our own may unlock secrets about our health
During pregnancy, maternal and fetal cells migrate back and forth across the placenta, with fetal cells entering the mother's bloodstream and tissues. They can settle in maternal organs such as the thyroid, liver, lungs, ...
Evolution
10 hours ago
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Human penis size influences female attraction and male assessment of rivals, study suggests
Men assess potential rivals that have a larger penis as more of a threat, both physically and sexually, according to a study by Upama Aich at the University of Western Australia and colleagues, published in PLOS Biology.
Evolution
14 hours ago
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36
Diversity of water striders emerged earlier than previously thought, researchers find
The diversity of water strider species apparently developed as early as the Cretaceous period, much earlier than previously thought. SNSB researchers have succeeded in clarifying the phylogenetic history of this insect family, ...
Evolution
15 hours ago
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Four-eyed Cambrian fish fossils hint at origins of vertebrate pineal complex
New fossil evidence from China suggests that some of our vertebrate ancestors had four eyes. The study, published in Nature, takes a closer look at a structure found in multiple 518 million-year-old fossils, which appears ...
Chimpanzees are better at solving resource dilemmas in larger, more tolerant groups
Despite being one of the most cooperative species on the planet, humans routinely fail to manage shared resources sustainably. We overfish from the oceans, burn fossil fuels, and over-prescribe antibiotics; behaviors that ...
Plants & Animals
18 hours ago
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How European city life is continually rewriting insect DNA
Cities are known to shape the evolution of wildlife within them, but according to a study of European cities published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, this is not a one-off event. Rather ...
Bird retinas function without oxygen—solving a centuries-old biological mystery
Neural tissue normally dies quickly without oxygen. Yet bird retinas—among the most energy-demanding tissues in the animal kingdom—function permanently without it. This may be relevant in future treatment of stroke patients.
Plants & Animals
Jan 21, 2026
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2.6-million-year-old Paranthropus fossil expands early hominin range
In a paper published in Nature, a team led by University of Chicago paleoanthropologist Professor Zeresenay Alemseged reports the discovery of the first Paranthropus specimen from the Afar region of Ethiopia, 1,000 km north ...
Evolution
Jan 21, 2026
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Strategic sex: Alaska's beluga whales swap mates for long-term survival
In the icy waters of Alaska's Bristol Bay, a new study reveals how a small population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) survive the long haul through a surprising strategy: they mate with multiple partners over several ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 21, 2026
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Bubble netting knowledge spread by immigrant humpback whales, study finds
New research from the University of St Andrews has found that the social spread of group bubble-net feeding among humpback whales is crucial to the success of the population's ongoing recovery.
Plants & Animals
Jan 20, 2026
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Ancient 'spaghetti' in dogs' hearts reveals surprising origins of heartworm
Research led by the University of Sydney is reshaping scientific understanding of one of the world's most widespread canine parasites, suggesting heartworm disease has a far deeper and more complex evolutionary history than ...
Evolution
Jan 20, 2026
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Meta-study reveals mechanisms of animals' adaptations to cope with climate change
Climate change has a wide range of effects on wildlife. It affects seasonal migration, reproduction times, body size and mass, and disrupts ecological processes, thereby posing challenges for the populations of some species. ...
Evolution
Jan 19, 2026
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Decoded rules of microRNA strand selection reveal conserved, programmable features
MicroRNAs, whose discovery was recognized with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, are central regulators of gene expression, yet a fundamental question has remained unanswered: how cells choose between the two ...
Evolution
Jan 17, 2026
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81
DNA from wolf pup's last meal reveals new facts about woolly rhino's extinction
The woolly rhino, Coelodonta antiquitatis, would have been an impressive sight to the ancient people who painted images of them on cave walls and carved figurines of them out of bone, antler, ivory and wood.
Evolution
Jan 15, 2026
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How small mammals shrink their brains to survive the cold
An international team of researchers, with the involvement of the UAB, has conducted a study that explains the evolutionary origins of the Dehnel phenomenon, a unique seasonal adaptation in small mammals that involves the ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 15, 2026
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How concrete jungles could be changing dandelion seed dispersal in Japan
Dandelions are incredible plants with a highly efficient seed-dispersal system, meaning even a gentle breeze can carry seeds and their parachutes great distances. But in several places in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, they have ...
Homo habilis: The oldest and most complete skeleton discovered to date
An international research team has unveiled a significant discovery in human paleontology: an exceptionally well-preserved Homo habilis skeleton dating back more than 2 million years.
Evolution
Jan 14, 2026
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123
How a soft coral moves its tentacles in perfect synchronization without a brain
A joint study by Tel Aviv University and the University of Haifa set out to solve a scientific mystery: how a soft coral is able to perform the rhythmic, pulsating movements of its tentacles without a central nervous system. ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 13, 2026
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A tiny mouse hints at why some mammal mothers may benefit from choosing more than one father
Many animals do something that still surprises researchers: females often mate with more than one male. This behavior—polyandry—has long raised a blunt question. Why divide offspring among multiple fathers, and does it ...
Evolution
Jan 13, 2026
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40
Asexual yam species employs mimicry to trick birds and spread farther
Evolutionarily speaking, the ultimate goal of a lifeform is to reproduce and stave off extinction. Many plants and animals have evolved unique tricks to do so. One of these tricks is mimicry, which might be used to trick ...
Other news
Scientists may have discovered a new extinct form of life
Astronomers discover dense super-Neptune exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star
Sharktober: Scientists confirm spike in tiger shark bites in October
New code connects microscopic insights to the macroscopic world
Biofilm streamers harden under flow, making bacterial infections harder to treat
Magnetic 'sweet spots' enable optimal operation of hole spin qubits
Meadows reveal unexpected monotony in insect biodiversity study
Molecular surgery: 'Deleting' a single atom from a molecule
Rare jumping bristletail reveals new step in insect mating evolution
Lily-like plants reveal centromere type evolution paths
Copper-carrying compound targets and kills MRSA bacteria by mimicking iron
