Evolution(Page 8)

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

Latest in Evolution

A green frog from Madascagar sits on a leaf.

What hundreds of pickled frog carcasses can tell us about their enormous eyes What hundreds of pickled frog carcasses can tell us about their enormous eyes

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Myobatrachus gouldii live, in situ, Kalbarri National Park, WA.

These buff frogs never skip arm day These buff frogs never skip arm day

By Sara Kiley Watson

Highland wild dog.

New Guinea singing dogs still roam the wilderness New Guinea singing dogs still roam the wilderness

By Sara Kiley Watson

Humans owe our evolutionary success to friendship Humans owe our evolutionary success to friendship

By Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods

Sled pulled by dogs.

Humans have partnered with sled dogs for 9,500 years Humans have partnered with sled dogs for 9,500 years

By Sara Kiley Watson

Big Q body parts

Why your body looks so weird Why your body looks so weird

By Ellen Airhart

An inch-long bogong moth covers hundreds of miles of Australian terrain to return to its birthplace.

Animals have mysterious ways of finding their way back home Animals have mysterious ways of finding their way back home

By Purbita Saha

Renaud Vigourt illustration

No one knows what a perfect night’s sleep actually looks like No one knows what a perfect night’s sleep actually looks like

By Claire Maldarelli

Adalatherium hui

This ‘crazy beast’ is unlike any mammal we’ve ever seen This ‘crazy beast’ is unlike any mammal we’ve ever seen

By Sara Kiley Watson

Why we evolved to feel empathy during pandemics and other disasters Why we evolved to feel empathy during pandemics and other disasters

By Peter Sterling/MIT Press Reader

This timeline shows just how insignificant humans are This timeline shows just how insignificant humans are

By Nicole Wetsman

Rhinos with oxpeckers on their back.

Rhinos pay a painful price for oxpecker protection Rhinos pay a painful price for oxpecker protection

By Sara Kiley Watson

Close-up of modern flax cordage showing twisted fibre construction

An ancient bit of yarn suggests Neanderthals were super crafty An ancient bit of yarn suggests Neanderthals were super crafty

By Sara Kiley Watson

A mandrill baboon in a zoo

Social distancing works—just ask lobsters, ants, and vampire bats Social distancing works—just ask lobsters, ants, and vampire bats

By Hawley & Buck/The Conversation

Anotheca spinosa skull

These spiky frog skulls look more like dinosaur fossils These spiky frog skulls look more like dinosaur fossils

By Sara Kiley Watson

Yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse.

Meet the highest mouse on Earth Meet the highest mouse on Earth

By Sara Kiley Watson

Pablo Escobar’s invasive hippos could actually be good for the environment Pablo Escobar’s invasive hippos could actually be good for the environment

By Sara Kiley Watson

Blessing of narwhals

The narwhal’s giant unicorn horn might help them find mates The narwhal’s giant unicorn horn might help them find mates

By Sara Kiley Watson

A bioluminescent ponyfish with a light-generating organ in its esophagus.

Fish gave us legs—and four other finny facts Fish gave us legs—and four other finny facts

A tadpole of a gray tree frog sucks in a bubble full of oxygen.

Watch tiny tadpoles breathe by ‘bubble sucking’ Watch tiny tadpoles breathe by ‘bubble sucking’

By Purbita Saha

young women kissing

We might have started kissing to share chewed up food (and other delicious facts about smooching) We might have started kissing to share chewed up food (and other delicious facts about smooching)

By Erin Blakemore

two fish side by side with one poking a bone into the other, but in a sexy way

This ancient bony fish was a sexual pioneer This ancient bony fish was a sexual pioneer

By Rachel Feltman

Azawakh dog in the forest.

Meet the Azawakh, the latest breed to enter the Westminster Dog Show Meet the Azawakh, the latest breed to enter the Westminster Dog Show

By Sara Kiley Watson

White dog on blue background

Did humans truly domesticate dogs? Canine history is more of a mystery than you think. Did humans truly domesticate dogs? Canine history is more of a mystery than you think.

A graceful orange cat with a long tail walking on green grass

Most humans don’t have tails. So why do we have the bones for it? Most humans don’t have tails. So why do we have the bones for it?

African grey parrot.

For some African grey parrots, sharing is caring For some African grey parrots, sharing is caring

By Sara Kiley Watson

Homo erectus skull

The ‘granddaddy’ of all early hominins walked on Earth a lot longer than we thought The ‘granddaddy’ of all early hominins walked on Earth a lot longer than we thought

By Sara Kiley Watson

Baboon making sounds

Monkey mouth sounds could push the evolution of speech back by 27 million years Monkey mouth sounds could push the evolution of speech back by 27 million years

By Thomas R. Sawallis & Louis-Jean Boë/The Conversation

Why do some animals engage in same-sex sexual behavior? The better question is… why not?

Why do some animals engage in same-sex sexual behavior? The better question is… why not? Why do some animals engage in same-sex sexual behavior? The better question is… why not?

A controversial new study claims Botswana may be the origin of modern humanity

A controversial new study claims Botswana may be the origin of modern humanity A controversial new study claims Botswana may be the origin of modern humanity

We may finally know why we can’t regrow limbs like newts and toads do

We may finally know why we can’t regrow limbs like newts and toads do We may finally know why we can’t regrow limbs like newts and toads do

The weirdest things we learned this week: moving corpses, birth control placebos, and the story behind the hymen

The weirdest things we learned this week: moving corpses, birth control placebos, and the story behind the hymen The weirdest things we learned this week: moving corpses, birth control placebos, and the story behind the hymen

By Popular Science Team

The asteroid collision that changed life on Earth forever—without killing the dinosaurs

The asteroid collision that changed life on Earth forever—without killing the dinosaurs The asteroid collision that changed life on Earth forever—without killing the dinosaurs

By Birger Schmitz/The Conversation

Panic might be triggered by signals from your bones

Panic might be triggered by signals from your bones Panic might be triggered by signals from your bones

Motion sickness is proof that your body is functioning as evolution intended

Motion sickness is proof that your body is functioning as evolution intended Motion sickness is proof that your body is functioning as evolution intended

By Spencer Salter/The Conversation

Evolution doesn’t work the way you think it does

Evolution doesn’t work the way you think it does Evolution doesn’t work the way you think it does

By Quentin Wheeler, Antonio G. Valdecasas & Cristina Cánovas/The Conversation

This three-foot-tall parrot proves New Zealand is the mecca of giant weird birds

This three-foot-tall parrot proves New Zealand is the mecca of giant weird birds This three-foot-tall parrot proves New Zealand is the mecca of giant weird birds

By Sara Chodosh

This ancient predator had claws like rakes and a body like a spaceship

This ancient predator had claws like rakes and a body like a spaceship This ancient predator had claws like rakes and a body like a spaceship

Everything you need to know about shark bites

Everything you need to know about shark bites Everything you need to know about shark bites

By Gavin Naylor/The Conversation

Gorillas can be cliquey, too. Here’s what that says about our own social lives.

Gorillas can be cliquey, too. Here’s what that says about our own social lives. Gorillas can be cliquey, too. Here’s what that says about our own social lives.

By Marion Renault

Natural selection can’t explain this bug’s bizarre horn

Natural selection can’t explain this bug’s bizarre horn Natural selection can’t explain this bug’s bizarre horn

Scientists are still straightening out the history of zebra stripes

Scientists are still straightening out the history of zebra stripes Scientists are still straightening out the history of zebra stripes

By Donavyn Coffey

highveld mole rat droptail ant

The naked mole rat’s furry cousin also feels no pain The naked mole rat’s furry cousin also feels no pain

By Sara Chodosh

Europeans looked down on Neanderthals—until they realized they shared their DNA

Europeans looked down on Neanderthals—until they realized they shared their DNA Europeans looked down on Neanderthals—until they realized they shared their DNA

By Angela Saini

Ancient fungi may have laid the groundwork for complex life

Ancient fungi may have laid the groundwork for complex life Ancient fungi may have laid the groundwork for complex life

By Katie Field/The Conversation

Scientists caught chimps smashing tortoises like walnuts for future snacking

Scientists caught chimps smashing tortoises like walnuts for future snacking Scientists caught chimps smashing tortoises like walnuts for future snacking

By Lydia Luncz, Alexander Piel, and Fiona Stewart/The Conversation

This ancient sea creature had 45 tubular tentacles and will haunt your dreams

This ancient sea creature had 45 tubular tentacles and will haunt your dreams This ancient sea creature had 45 tubular tentacles and will haunt your dreams

By Kaitlin Sullivan

Four-legged whales once straddled land and sea

Four-legged whales once straddled land and sea Four-legged whales once straddled land and sea

By Jan Hoole/The Conversation

These Chinese fossil deposits shed light on an explosive period in evolution

These Chinese fossil deposits shed light on an explosive period in evolution These Chinese fossil deposits shed light on an explosive period in evolution

By Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams/The Conversation

Warblers live longer with a little child-rearing help from their friends

Warblers live longer with a little child-rearing help from their friends Warblers live longer with a little child-rearing help from their friends

By Eleanor Cummins

Human animal humanimal hand swan feeding

Rethinking what sets humans apart starts with asking if we’re special at all Rethinking what sets humans apart starts with asking if we’re special at all

By Adam Rutherford

Clearwing butterfly toxin species photograph award winning

Megapixels: This butterfly’s wings are transparently toxic Megapixels: This butterfly’s wings are transparently toxic

By Eleanor Cummins

close-up of a zebra

How a zebra’s stripes put bloodthirsty flies into a tailspin How a zebra’s stripes put bloodthirsty flies into a tailspin

By Jessica Boddy

Charles Darwin wrote enough one-liners to fill a burn book

Charles Darwin wrote enough one-liners to fill a burn book Charles Darwin wrote enough one-liners to fill a burn book

By Eleanor Cummins

A macaroni penguin takes a little snooze on a rock.

Penguins may have islands to thank for their diverse looks Penguins may have islands to thank for their diverse looks

By Jessica Boddy

fluorescent flying squirrel

MEGAPIXELS: These flying squirrels fluoresce hot pink, and no one knows exactly why MEGAPIXELS: These flying squirrels fluoresce hot pink, and no one knows exactly why

squirrel in the snow

Do wild animals hate being cold in winter? Do wild animals hate being cold in winter?

By Bridget B. Baker/The Conversation

Veoneer driving facial recognition mood

Artificial intelligence thinks your face is full of data. Could it actually unmask you? Artificial intelligence thinks your face is full of data. Could it actually unmask you?

By Eleanor Cummins

Face to face with the sloth

Sloths aren’t the picky eaters we thought they were Sloths aren’t the picky eaters we thought they were

By Jan Hoole/The Conversation

iss view from atlantis space shuttle

Good news: space bacteria (probably) aren’t evolving to destroy us Good news: space bacteria (probably) aren’t evolving to destroy us

holiday pregnancy test

Like other animals, humans have a breeding season—and it’s right now Like other animals, humans have a breeding season—and it’s right now

By Micaela Martinez and Kevin M. Bakker/The Conversation

gecko running water

It turns out geckos can run on water—and this adorable video shows how It turns out geckos can run on water—and this adorable video shows how

By Sara Chodosh

Early humans hooked up with other species a whole bunch

Early humans hooked up with other species a whole bunch Early humans hooked up with other species a whole bunch

By Neel V. Patel

Whoa, dinosaur eggs looked more dope than we thought

Whoa, dinosaur eggs looked more dope than we thought Whoa, dinosaur eggs looked more dope than we thought

By Jillian Mock