Evolution

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

Latest in Evolution

Striated frogfish (Antennarius striatus), also known as the hairy frogfish.

Anglerfish use ‘extremely rare’ mechanism to control their lures Anglerfish use ‘extremely rare’ mechanism to control their lures

A juvenile Nile crocodile. It is small with pointed teeth

Why are crocodiles so bumpy? A dermatological mystery has been solved Why are crocodiles so bumpy? A dermatological mystery has been solved

By Laura Baisas

Frozen surface of Lake Enigma

Life discovered lurking under Antarctica’s frozen Lake Enigma Life discovered lurking under Antarctica’s frozen Lake Enigma

a siberian husky sits in the snow. it has piercing blue eyes and its ears are perked up

Humans gave dogs treats 12,000 years ago, new archeological evidence suggests Humans gave dogs treats 12,000 years ago, new archeological evidence suggests

By Laura Baisas

The anglerfish species Lophius piscatorius.

Anglerfish are so much more than just their dangly bioluminescent lures Anglerfish are so much more than just their dangly bioluminescent lures

By Laura Baisas

brain scans in pink, blue, and yellow

Humans may have big brains thanks to our gut Humans may have big brains thanks to our gut

By Laura Baisas

a long piece of fossilized dinosaur poop on the ground

200-million-year-old dinosaur poop and vomit reveal a lost Jurassic world 200-million-year-old dinosaur poop and vomit reveal a lost Jurassic world

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of the amygdala, shown in red. It is a part of the brain’s limbic system and plays a key role in processing emotions.

‘Was I awkward?’ What overthinking after a party has to do with your ‘lizard brain’ ‘Was I awkward?’ What overthinking after a party has to do with your ‘lizard brain’

By Laura Baisas

A mother and calf West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in Crystal River, Florida.

Florida’s famous manatees were originally tourists Florida’s famous manatees were originally tourists

By Laura Baisas

Marine fossils found at Neanderthal cave site

Neanderthals may have enjoyed collecting tchotchkes—just like us Neanderthals may have enjoyed collecting tchotchkes—just like us

stone walls separating several small houses in ireland

Scottish, Irish, and Northern English better at detecting fake accents Scottish, Irish, and Northern English better at detecting fake accents

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of two Skiphosoura bavarica in flight.

New pterosaur species sliced through the air with a sword-like tail New pterosaur species sliced through the air with a sword-like tail

By Laura Baisas

a small bird with black, gray, and white, plumage solves a puzzle in a lab

Immigrating great tits learn from their new neighbors Immigrating great tits learn from their new neighbors

By Laura Baisas

x-ray scans of early human skulls. the teeth are colored red, green, orange, blue, and purple to show the differences among them

These 1.77-million-year-old teeth could help demystify human childhoods These 1.77-million-year-old teeth could help demystify human childhoods

By Laura Baisas

an elephant in a zoo enclosure holds a yellow hose in its trunk and uses the hose as a shower

Watch a clever elephant use a hose to get clean Watch a clever elephant use a hose to get clean

By Laura Baisas

Chimpanzee playing a number-based game on a touch screen

Like humans, chimps often perform tasks differently when crowds are watching Like humans, chimps often perform tasks differently when crowds are watching

Illustration of a terror bird standing by river

Meat-eating terror birds could grow up to 12 feet tall Meat-eating terror birds could grow up to 12 feet tall

a tadpole swimming

A rock in Argentina turns out to be the oldest tadpole fossil ever found A rock in Argentina turns out to be the oldest tadpole fossil ever found

By Laura Baisas

Thalattosuchian skulls. Showing the semi-aquatic species (A and B), and the fully aquatic metriorhynchid (C).

Why don’t we have deep sea crocodiles? Why don’t we have deep sea crocodiles?

An illustration of Lomankus edgecombei. This arthropod lived about 538 to 485 million years ago in dark and low-oxygen environments.

450-million-year-old arthropod found preserved in fool’s gold 450-million-year-old arthropod found preserved in fool’s gold

By Laura Baisas