Life on Venus may be possible in acidic clouds, claim scientists
"This paper shows (by experiment) that amino acids (essential for life as we know it) can be stable in such conditions," expert David Rothery told Newsweek.
Scientists discover giant carnivorous worms—ancient "terror beasts"
The worms belonged to a past dynasty of ancient predators previously unknown to science.
Are humans still evolving? "Maybe more rapidly than ever," says scientist
Cultural and technological innovations appear to be the main drivers of adaptation. But have they replaced biological adaptation?
Cold viruses "may never be the same again"
Disruption caused by COVID lockdowns may have made winter bugs less predictable, with significant consequences for public health.
Scientists discover driving force in the evolution of speech
Using our living ancestors as "time machines," the team was able to decipher a new piece in the puzzle of our own evolution.
Humans prefer dogs with certain eye color, scientists reveal
Humans perceived dogs with darker eyes as more friendly and immature by humans.
Humans have "devastated" 1,400 bird species—and counting
Nearly all these extinctions are thought to have occurred due to human-driven factors, ranging from hunting and eating the birds to habitat destruction.
Male sea snakes evolved big eyes to ogle at females
Female sea snakes evolved to get larger than their male counterparts, and males developed bigger eyes to track down a potential mate.
Dinosaur Happy Meal? Young tyrannosaurs ate from the kids' menu
A young dinosaur fossil contains the remains of its last meal, showing tyrannosaurids had different diets between youth and adulthood.
Two new coronavirus lineages discovered in bats
The research provides insights into the dynamics and evolution of these viruses, which will be important to prepare for future pandemics.
Feeling your age? Blame the dinosaurs, scientist argues
Pressure from dinosaur predation 100 million years ago may have forced mammals to evolve to live fast and die young rather than growing very old like reptiles.
COVID's evolution may have been driven by human behavior, say biologists
Mathematical models suggest that our own isolation strategies may have driven the evolution of more successful virus strains.
Dinosaurs that died 190 million years ago found with 50 "leathery" eggs
Researchers identified a new dinosaur species in China alongside dozens of its eggs containing the skeletal remains of embryos.
Researchers discover bird footprints made 120 million years ago
Scientists say the fossilized footprints represent the oldest evidence of birds living anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere
"Bizarre" new dinosaur species discovered that slept like today's birds
The previously unknown dinosaur, which is thought to have lived around 70 million years ago, had several bird-like features.
Evolution in science textbook sparks Republican fight: "Unconstitutional"
The discussion over different textbooks in Texas comes as other states and GOP officials have sought to ban specific books in schools.
News
Rare primate found in Nebraska is a clue about the future
A new study shows how some species might be able to persevere during a drastically changing climate.
Scientists might finally know where shoulders come from
By studying our ancient ancestors, scientists have taken a massive step towards solving a decades-old debate over the evolution of human anatomy.
Scientists finally solve mystery of where starfish keep their heads
"It has absolutely changed the way that I think about this group of animals," evolution expert said.
Venus flytraps ate my skin, says scientist. Could they eat whole humans?
"Much to my simultaneous pleasure and horror, I found that the plants consumed the nasty, thick, dried callus tissue with gusto," Barry Rice told Newsweek.
Chimpanzee menopause could unravel human evolution mystery
Menopause has been observed in wild chimpanzees for the first time, turning previous theories on their heads.
Young chimps and human babies share vocal skill that is key to language
A study of vocal development in young chimpanzees has shed new light on the mysterious origins of human language.
Female frogs fake death to escape unwanted male attention
To avoid being crowded to death by males wanting to mate during the breeding season, female frogs have evolved ways to get the males to leave them alone.
Cats purr using Katy Perry vocal technique, scientists say
Anatomical investigations revealed a unique 'pad' within the cats' vocal folds.
Fluorescent mammals are much more common than scientists thought
Eighty-six percent of mammal species studied were found to glow in the dark under ultraviolet light, new research has found.
Scientists closer to understanding gay behavior in animals
Researchers found "an across-species statistical association between same-sex sexual behavior and social behavior," study author José M. Gómez told Newsweek.
Why are carrots orange? Scientists reveal the answer
"We identified three genes responsible for the accumulation of alpha and beta carotene, which make carrots orange," study author Massimo Iorizzo told Newsweek.
Are COVID drugs creating super viruses? Scientists weigh in
Some antivirals work by increasing the rate of mutation in SARS-CoV-2. But could this accelerate the evolution of new, super variants?
Dinosaur-like fossil discovered, providing clues into evolution of birds
The fossil is giving archaeologists important insights into the evolution of birds in the terrestrial ecosystem at the time.
Scientists discover why mysterious arachnid has alpha, beta and gamma males
The researchers found that males that had lost one of their legs during development were more likely to become gamma males, at the bottom of the male hierarchy.