Think Man-Sized Swimming Centipede — And Be Glad It's A Fossil
This sea monster swam Earth's seas about 480 million years ago and was the biggest creature of its day, scientists say.
evolution
Could A Quokka Beat A Numbat? Oddsmakers Say Yes
In "Mammal March Madness," you win or die. No basketball in this tournament — it's a simulated survival-of-the-fittest game set up by evolutionary biologists. The battle cry? Mammals suck ... milk!
Ebola Is Not Mutating As Fast As Scientists Feared
Many people have worried that Ebola could evolve into a more deadly virus — or start spreading through the air. A study published Thursday alleviates these concerns.
'Weird' Fern Shows The Power Of Interspecies Sex
Two species of fern that diverged 60 million years ago are as evolutionarily distant as, say, elephants and manatees. Nonetheless, the two species recently produced a hybrid, say astounded botanists.
For The Evolution Of Marine Creatures, Bigger Is Better, Study Says
A new study published in Science looked at thousands of marine animals over a 540-million-year evolutionary span. Their conclusion: Most of them got larger.
'Tasty': How Flavor Helped Make Us Human
From an evolutionary standpoint, flavor has long helped define who we are as a species, journalist John McQuaid argues in his new book, an exploration of the art and science of taste.
How Animals Hacked The Rainbow And Got Stumped On Blue
There's more than one way to make color, nature tells us. And more than one way to use it to your own advantage.
Pope Says God Not 'A Magician, With A Magic Wand'
Speaking at an assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Francis also affirmed that evolution and the Big Bang are consistent with a creator.
Why Do You Care About Fairness? Ask A Chimp
Squirrel monkeys, chimps and humans: Two among these are willing to give up an unfair advantage, but why? It's about greasing the social wheels, scientists say.
Bacterial Competition In Lab Shows Evolution Never Stops
Day after day, workers at Michigan State University care for and feed colonies of evolving bacteria. The original microbes have produced more than 50,000 generations in the 25 years since the experiment began. Despite predictions the bacteria might someday reach a point where they would evolve no more, the results show they keep changing.