Evolution

Many of us know the state of being “wired but tired” – feeling physically exhausted yet mentally unable to switch off. But the brain does not simply fall asleep because the body is fatigued – and part of the reason lies in the biology of survival.

It's been accepted that the life cycle of an ancient aquatic relative – an extinct group of crocodile-like predators – echoed that of modern amphibians, complete with a tadpole phase. A new study throws that picture into doubt.

Scientists from the University of Minnesota have taken a monumental step toward understanding the process of abiogenesis by piecing together their own organic cell and watching it divide in two.

An international team of scientists led by researchers at Virginia Tech has completed the millipede family tree for the first time.

By testing the luminescence of ancient bones, an international team of researchers has provided strong evidence that residents of South Africa’s Wonderwerk Cave may have been cooking their breakfast some time between 1.07 and 1.78 million years ago.

The rules of biology have been torn up by a small fish in the Pacific that steals light-producing molecules it from its food to make it bioluminescent, providing an "invisibility cloak" it needs for protection. It's the only example of kleptoproteinism we know of.

The aroma of freshly cut grass is one of nature’s most recognizable scents, but it's not produced for our enjoyment. It's actually part of an ancient chemical war that plants have been fighting against predators for millions of years.

One of the world’s most dangerous birds may carry signals invisible to the human eye. Scientists have found that the helmet-like casque atop a cassowary’s head fluoresces under UV light, revealing striking patterns that differ between species.

RNA can make copies of itself, and also catalyze its self-replication. But how could such a complex molecule in simple organisms copy itself without any mutations? And how did these complex molecules emerge before advanced life forms?

Fascinating new analysis of fabric samples and other artifacts from a cave in Oregon reveals that humans may have stitched clothing as far back as 12,600 years ago – giving us an understanding of a critical aspect of evolution in that period.

When escaped domestic pigs bred with wild boar after the Fukushima evacuation, researchers gained a rare chance to observe large-scale hybridization. The result offers a new lens on how fast-breeding traits can quietly reshape wildlife genetics.

Male nipples. Whale pelvic bones. Vestigial hind limbs in snakes. Evolution is full of features that look purposeful but are actually by-products with no explicit function. New research suggests the human chin may be one such evolutionary side effect.