Evolution

The latest science on how life has adapted and changed over generations—and how new species come to be.

Latest in Evolution

a semi-translucent fish with a tadpole-shaped body and small flecks of red and yellow

Environment

Biofluorescent snailfish brave Arctic waters with built-in antifreeze Biofluorescent snailfish brave Arctic waters with built-in antifreeze

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

a black and white ghostly image of a jumping spider hanging by a thin silk strand in a sleep-like state

Science

Jumping spiders might be able to sleep—perchance to dream Jumping spiders might be able to sleep—perchance to dream

By Lauren J. Young

A sauropod like Galeamopus would have walked on soft pads.

Science

Cushy feet supported sauropods’ gigantic bodies Cushy feet supported sauropods’ gigantic bodies

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Small European panda from 6 million years ago in a painting

Science

Pandas weren’t always bamboo fiends Pandas weren’t always bamboo fiends

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A clay pot filled with milk, with a spoon of milk over it.

Science

Ancient milk-drinkers were just fine with their lactose intolerance–until famine struck Ancient milk-drinkers were just fine with their lactose intolerance–until famine struck

By Philip Kiefer

a close up of a fossil horse tooth

Science

A centuries-old horse tooth holds clues to the mystery of the Chincoteague ponies A centuries-old horse tooth holds clues to the mystery of the Chincoteague ponies

By Kate Baggaley

Tiktaalik’s ancient cousin decided life was better in the water

Science

Tiktaalik’s ancient cousin decided life was better in the water Tiktaalik’s ancient cousin decided life was better in the water

By Kate Baggaley

White shepherd or collie dog with tongue hanging out in front of blue background ad swirling dog memories

Environment

Do cats and dogs remember their past? Do cats and dogs remember their past?

By Brandon Keim

an illustration of an early mammal creature with fur and a few sharp teeth, breathing out a puff of air indicating cold weather. a bug flies in the corner

Science

Mammals’ ears may hold the secret to warm-bloodedness Mammals’ ears may hold the secret to warm-bloodedness

By Kate Baggaley

a sperm whale swimming under water

Science

Megalodons liked to snack on sperm whale snouts Megalodons liked to snack on sperm whale snouts

By Rachel Feltman

A winged insect fossil in rock is about 300 million years old, a fossil example of an early animal to take flight.

Science

When insects got wings, evolution really took off When insects got wings, evolution really took off

a siberian husky in the snow howls

Science

Ancient wolf DNA is being used to sniff out where our love story with dogs began Ancient wolf DNA is being used to sniff out where our love story with dogs began

By Kate Baggaley

a close up of a face mite poking out of a skin pore

Science

The mites that breed on our faces are getting clingier by the day The mites that breed on our faces are getting clingier by the day

By Lauren J. Young

x-ray of impacted wisdom tooth

Science

We finally know why we grow wisdom teeth as adults We finally know why we grow wisdom teeth as adults

By Sara Chodosh

What an ancient jawbone reveals about polar bear evolution

Science

What an ancient jawbone reveals about polar bear evolution What an ancient jawbone reveals about polar bear evolution

By Philip Kiefer

The 1918 flu outbreak, in which patients were kept in quarantine wards like this, was one of the world's deadliest pandemics.

Science

A viral descendent of the deadly 1918 flu is probably still going around A viral descendent of the deadly 1918 flu is probably still going around

husky staring at you intently

Environment

The biggest myth about dog breeds The biggest myth about dog breeds

Two crows attacking a feeding bald eagle along the water

Environment

Crows and ravens flexed smarts and strength for world dominance Crows and ravens flexed smarts and strength for world dominance

Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution

Science

Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution

By Philip Kiefer

fluorescent view of an archerfish's skeleton and anatomy

Environment

An archerfish family tree is the best shot yet at the evolution of sniper fish An archerfish family tree is the best shot yet at the evolution of sniper fish

Dogs know exactly what they’re doing when they give you the ‘puppy eyes’

Environment

Dogs know exactly what they’re doing when they give you the ‘puppy eyes’ Dogs know exactly what they’re doing when they give you the ‘puppy eyes’

By Lauren J. Young

Two mid-sized brown owls sitting on a branch in daylight with horses, rhinos, and soaring birds in the background in an illustration

Environment

Meet the ancient owl that embraced daylight Meet the ancient owl that embraced daylight

By Purbita Saha

Environment

How vampire bats evolved to get the most out of their bloody diets How vampire bats evolved to get the most out of their bloody diets

By Kate Baggaley

A galloping horse.

Environment

Ancient sea creatures pioneered the gallop Ancient sea creatures pioneered the gallop

By Kate Baggaley

Prehistoric vampire squid swimming in the Paleozoic ocean in an illustration

Science

Slap another cephalopod on the vampire squid’s family tree Slap another cephalopod on the vampire squid’s family tree

By Lauren J. Young

An orange starfish on a rock.

Science

Classifying invertebrates is hard. Butts can help. Classifying invertebrates is hard. Butts can help.

By Philip Kiefer

E.O. Wilson in his Harvard evolutionary biology office in a black and white photo

Science

A closer look at E.O. Wilson’s archives reveals support for racist research A closer look at E.O. Wilson’s archives reveals support for racist research

By Michael Schulson/Undark

a brown bat in flight

Environment

The secret to these bats’ hunting prowess is deep within their ears The secret to these bats’ hunting prowess is deep within their ears

By Kate Baggaley

A fossil with a series of diagonal slashes cut into one corner.

Science

Eating meat may not have been as crucial to human evolution as we thought Eating meat may not have been as crucial to human evolution as we thought

By Philip Kiefer

Paleontological researchers on a volcanic mound in Ethiopia's Kibish Formation, where some of the oldest Homo sapiens have been discovered

Science

Eastern Africa’s oldest human fossils are more ancient than we realized Eastern Africa’s oldest human fossils are more ancient than we realized

By Kate Baggaley

A crab with huge eyes on the front of its face swimming after a shrimp with a big head.

Science

This 90-million-year-old crab had the eyes of a hunter This 90-million-year-old crab had the eyes of a hunter

By Philip Kiefer

Asteroid that killed the dinosaurs striking Earth. Illustration.

Science

If that asteroid had been 30 seconds late, dinosaurs might rule the world and humans probably wouldn’t exist If that asteroid had been 30 seconds late, dinosaurs might rule the world and humans probably wouldn’t exist

By Sara Chodosh

an illustration of a marine reptile

Science

These ancient marine reptiles got very big, very fast These ancient marine reptiles got very big, very fast

By Kate Baggaley

a color illustration of a brown and white bird in a lush forest

Science

This 120-million-year-old bird could stick out its tongue This 120-million-year-old bird could stick out its tongue

By Kate Baggaley

A young harbor seal looking at the camera

Science

Baby seals sing bass notes when they want attention Baby seals sing bass notes when they want attention

By Philip Kiefer

Baltimore checkerspot caterpillar curled up in a black and orange ball

Science

Inflatable tentacles and silk hats: See how caterpillars trick predators to survive Inflatable tentacles and silk hats: See how caterpillars trick predators to survive

By Erin Fennessy

an illustration of two human ancestors in africa

Science

Is it time to change the way we talk about human evolution? Is it time to change the way we talk about human evolution?

By Kate Baggaley

These female hummingbirds don flashy male feathers to avoid unwanted harassment

Science

These female hummingbirds don flashy male feathers to avoid unwanted harassment These female hummingbirds don flashy male feathers to avoid unwanted harassment

Science

Here’s how hagfish slime gets 10,000 times bigger in 0.4 seconds Here’s how hagfish slime gets 10,000 times bigger in 0.4 seconds

By Sara Chodosh

tetrapod fossil

Science

Our four-legged ancestors evolved from sea to land astonishingly quickly Our four-legged ancestors evolved from sea to land astonishingly quickly

By Philip Kiefer

The weirdest things we learned this week: Falcon sex hats and buying human skulls on Instagram

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: Falcon sex hats and buying human skulls on Instagram The weirdest things we learned this week: Falcon sex hats and buying human skulls on Instagram

By Rachel Feltman

an illustration of a melting planet earth covered in lush trees and leaves

Environment

An ancient era of global warming could hint at our scorching future An ancient era of global warming could hint at our scorching future

Soldier termites marching

Science

These photos are proof that evolution is wild and wondrous These photos are proof that evolution is wild and wondrous

By Popular Science Team

a colorful illustration of long-tailed gray rodents carrying assorted objects such as buttons, bones, bugs, and flowers

Science

What’s in a packrat’s petrified pee? Just a few thousand years of secrets. What’s in a packrat’s petrified pee? Just a few thousand years of secrets.

By Jason Bittel

an adult giraffe stands in the grass with a young giraffe

Science

Giraffe grandmas help keep herds going Giraffe grandmas help keep herds going

Mother and baby killer whale swimming in ocean with mountains in the background.

Environment

These killer whales go through menopause These killer whales go through menopause

Science

Your Nose Is Bad At Warming Air Your Nose Is Bad At Warming Air

By Alexandra Ossola

Elizabeth Kolbert On The Vanishing Of Species

Science

Elizabeth Kolbert On The Vanishing Of Species Elizabeth Kolbert On The Vanishing Of Species

A 3-D rendering of a human-like skull faces forward against a black background. The skull is a tan color and has a pronounced brow ridge, large nose cavity, and square-ish eye sockets. The lower jaw is absent.

Science

The debate over ‘Dragon Man’ shows that human origins are still kind of messy The debate over ‘Dragon Man’ shows that human origins are still kind of messy

By Lauren Leffer

A furry looking, ground-hog like creature climbs onto a rock from the forest floor surrounded by leaf litter and tree saplings at night.

Science

Elephants can add a cuddly new cousin to their family tree Elephants can add a cuddly new cousin to their family tree

By Lauren Leffer

A person wearing a baseball cap and tan jacket holds a pair of green, silver, and yellow pruning shears up to a tree branch, read to cut.

Science

Humans have become the biggest selection force in evolution Humans have become the biggest selection force in evolution

By Lauren Leffer

How Ancient Human-Like “Hobbits” Got So Small

Science

How Ancient Human-Like “Hobbits” Got So Small How Ancient Human-Like “Hobbits” Got So Small

By Grennan Milliken

The First Dogs May Have Been Domesticated In Central Asia

Science

The First Dogs May Have Been Domesticated In Central Asia The First Dogs May Have Been Domesticated In Central Asia

By Grennan Milliken

A new finding raises an old question: Where and when did life begin?

Science

A new finding raises an old question: Where and when did life begin? A new finding raises an old question: Where and when did life begin?

Important Scientific Mystery Solved: How Birds Lose Their Penises

Science

Important Scientific Mystery Solved: How Birds Lose Their Penises Important Scientific Mystery Solved: How Birds Lose Their Penises

By Lindsey Kratochwill

Science

Scientists Rank World’s Most ‘Evolutionarily Distinct’ Birds Scientists Rank World’s Most ‘Evolutionarily Distinct’ Birds

A primer to the primal origins of humans on Earth

Science

A primer to the primal origins of humans on Earth A primer to the primal origins of humans on Earth

By Mary Beth Griggs

Why Can Humans See In Color?

Science

Why Can Humans See In Color? Why Can Humans See In Color?

By Alexandra Ossola

illustration of hatchling lamprey

Science

These fossilized lamprey hatchlings disprove an age-old evolutionary theory These fossilized lamprey hatchlings disprove an age-old evolutionary theory

By Philip Kiefer

a man and woman sit close to each other and share a plate of pancakes

Science

Your favorite brunch foods are thousands of years old Your favorite brunch foods are thousands of years old

By Popular Science Team

Aurora sky over icy winter forest at night

Environment

A geomagnetic curveball 42,000 years ago changed our planet forever A geomagnetic curveball 42,000 years ago changed our planet forever

By Sara Kiley Watson

Masha Krasnova-Shavaeva illustration

Health

Neanderthal genes are still helping humans today Neanderthal genes are still helping humans today

By Claire Maldarelli

Science

This ancient fish-crocodile mashup snared its prey using a key adaptation This ancient fish-crocodile mashup snared its prey using a key adaptation

By Kate Baggaley

Masha Krasnova-Shavaeva illustration

Science

How humans have adapted to the harshest environments How humans have adapted to the harshest environments

By Marion Renault