Evolution (Page 12)

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

Latest in Evolution

How goldfish use booze to get through a hard winter

By Rachel Feltman

The earliest airborne mammals may have glided among the dinosaurs 160 million years ago

The earliest airborne mammals may have glided among the dinosaurs 160 million years ago

By Aparna Nathan

Ancient infant ape skull Nyanzapithecus alesi

A 13 million year old skull could show us what our ancestors looked like

By Sara Kiley Watson

Sorry, but New Zealand really needs to kill these adorable rabbits

Sorry, but New Zealand really needs to kill these adorable rabbits

By Sara Chodosh

You have a lot to teach your grandkids, and that might explain menopause

You have a lot to teach your grandkids, and that might explain menopause

By Aparna Nathan

Derpy pug in blanket

We still don’t really know where dogs came from

By Sara Chodosh

Tardigrades could probably survive the otherwise complete annihilation of life on Earth

Tardigrades could probably survive the otherwise complete annihilation of life on Earth

By Rachel Feltman

Grandma’s insomnia might be a product of evolution

Grandma’s insomnia might be a product of evolution

By Aparna Nathan

Baby squirrels are less likely to die if they’re born early

Baby squirrels are less likely to die if they’re born early

Bonobo ladies get to choose their mates and boy oh boy are they picky

Bonobo ladies get to choose their mates and boy oh boy are they picky

By Sara Chodosh

DNA may finally find a family for strange creatures that stumped Darwin

DNA may finally find a family for strange creatures that stumped Darwin

By Rachel Feltman

The oldest fossils of our species just got older

By Rachel Feltman

Dogs and wolves both get sad when you don’t treat them fairly

Dogs and wolves both get sad when you don’t treat them fairly

By Sara Chodosh

How the Galapagos cormorant forgot how to fly

How the Galapagos cormorant forgot how to fly

By Mary Beth Griggs

Whales today are bigger than ever before. Now, we know why.

Whales today are bigger than ever before. Now, we know why.

By Mary Beth Griggs

Scientists tweaked natural mutations to create a better tomato

Scientists tweaked natural mutations to create a better tomato

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Hopping parrotlets could teach robots how to fly

By Mary Beth Griggs

colorful bird feathers

How we finally figured out the color of dinosaur feathers

By Richard O. Prum

western spotted skunk

Ancient climate change drove the evolution of this adorable hand-standing skunk

By Mary Beth Griggs

New study asks how your favorite doggos came to be

By Rachel Feltman

As mountains grow, they drive the evolution of new species

As mountains grow, they drive the evolution of new species

Suck it, sponges: Marine jellies were the first animals to evolve

Suck it, sponges: Marine jellies were the first animals to evolve

By Sara Chodosh

These monkeys avoid sick friends by sniffing their poo

These monkeys avoid sick friends by sniffing their poo

By Rachel Feltman

Plagued by predators in the sea, these fish are moving onto land

Plagued by predators in the sea, these fish are moving onto land

By Mark D. Kaufman

Introducing the world’s oldest plant-like fossil

Introducing the world’s oldest plant-like fossil

By Mary Beth Griggs

female dance moves

These dance moves are scientifically proven to be sexy

Carnivorous plants aren’t as cool as you think

By Sara Chodosh

Life on Earth exploded, but meteorites didn’t start the party

Life on Earth exploded, but meteorites didn’t start the party

By Mark D. Kaufman

To understand the evolution of menopause, just look at family drama—in killer whales

To understand the evolution of menopause, just look at family drama—in killer whales

By Rachel Feltman

These freaky baboon shrieks could push back the evolution of speech

These freaky baboon shrieks could push back the evolution of speech

By Sara Chodosh

Why The Heck Do Animals Live In Our Houses?

Why The Heck Do Animals Live In Our Houses?

By Grennan Milliken

How Humans Evolved To Hurt Each Other

How Humans Evolved To Hurt Each Other

By Samantha Cole

Obesity Might Not Have Evolved To Protect Us From Starvation

By Claire Maldarelli

Scientists Force Snails To Exercise To See If It Affects Their Decision-Making Skills

Scientists Force Snails To Exercise To See If It Affects Their Decision-Making Skills

By Sara Chodosh

wolf pups playing

Wolves Are Risk-Takers, According To New Research

By Samantha Cole

Tasmanian devil

Tasmanian Devils Might Be Evolving To Resist Contagious Cancer

By Kate Baggaley

Science Shows That Men Who Eat Salads Smell More Attractive To Women

Science Shows That Men Who Eat Salads Smell More Attractive To Women

By Samantha Cole

This Is What Humans Would Look Like If We Could Withstand Car Wrecks

This Is What Humans Would Look Like If We Could Withstand Car Wrecks

By Kate Baggaley

Did Humans Evolve Opposable Thumbs So We Could Punch Each Other?

Did Humans Evolve Opposable Thumbs So We Could Punch Each Other?

Are viruses alive? New evidence says yes

Are viruses alive? New evidence says yes

By Grennan Milliken

Brilliant 10: Jonathan Pruitt Studies How (Spider) Societies Function

Brilliant 10: Jonathan Pruitt Studies How (Spider) Societies Function

By Veronique Greenwood and Cassandra Willyard

New Species On Human Family Tree Discovered In Ancient Mass Grave

New Species On Human Family Tree Discovered In Ancient Mass Grave

By Claire Maldarelli

Do You Have Horizontally Slit Pupils? You Might Be A Prey Animal

Do You Have Horizontally Slit Pupils? You Might Be A Prey Animal

By Claire Maldarelli

Long Tails May Save Luna Moths From Hungry Bats [Video]

Long Tails May Save Luna Moths From Hungry Bats [Video]

Robotic Experiment Recreates Evolution In Oil And Water

Robotic Experiment Recreates Evolution In Oil And Water

By Francie Diep

Kitty DNA Shows Cats Have Evolved To Learn From Treats

Kitty DNA Shows Cats Have Evolved To Learn From Treats

By Francie Diep

Is The Human Species Still Evolving?

Is The Human Species Still Evolving?

How Flies Are Responsible For Beer’s Tasty, Fruity Smells

How Flies Are Responsible For Beer’s Tasty, Fruity Smells

By Francie Diep

Australia’s Invasive Cane Toads Have Evolved To Hop Even Faster

Australia’s Invasive Cane Toads Have Evolved To Hop Even Faster

By Francie Diep

Venomous Slow Loris May Have Evolved To Mimic Cobras

Venomous Slow Loris May Have Evolved To Mimic Cobras

Pest In Brazil Has Evolved Resistance Against GMO Corn

Pest In Brazil Has Evolved Resistance Against GMO Corn

By Francie Diep

Ask Anything: Can Humans Smell Fear?

Ask Anything: Can Humans Smell Fear?

By Daniel Engber

Are Fish As Intelligent As Crows, Chimps… Or People?

Are Fish As Intelligent As Crows, Chimps… Or People?

Left To Their Own Devices, Robots Evolve Into Diverse Populations

Left To Their Own Devices, Robots Evolve Into Diverse Populations

By Francie Diep

More Evidence Shows Whooping Cough Evolving In Response To Its Vaccine

More Evidence Shows Whooping Cough Evolving In Response To Its Vaccine

By Francie Diep

Whooping Cough Has Evolved In Response To Its Vaccine

Whooping Cough Has Evolved In Response To Its Vaccine

By Francie Diep

How Evolution Determines The Flavor Of Beer and Whiskey

How Evolution Determines The Flavor Of Beer and Whiskey

Did Ancient Climate Change Drive Human Evolution?

Did Ancient Climate Change Drive Human Evolution?

By Shaunacy Ferro

FYI: What’s The Point Of Sex?

FYI: What’s The Point Of Sex?

By Benjamin Ewen-Campen

7 Amazing Living Fossils

7 Amazing Living Fossils

By Dan Nosowitz

FYI: When Will We Evolve Out Of Our Useless Appendages?

FYI: When Will We Evolve Out Of Our Useless Appendages?

By Natalie Wolchover

In 165-Million-Year-Old Fossil, Evidence That Fur Predates Mammals

In 165-Million-Year-Old Fossil, Evidence That Fur Predates Mammals

By Shaunacy Ferro

FYI: What Is The Evolutionary Purpose Of Tickling?

FYI: What Is The Evolutionary Purpose Of Tickling?

By Natalie Wolchover

What Are The Most Lactose Intolerant Places In The World? [Infographic]

What Are The Most Lactose Intolerant Places In The World? [Infographic]

By Shaunacy Ferro