Topic
evolutionary biology
18 stories related to this topic, newest first.
theconversation.comscience5 days ago
Fossil discoveries link one-eyed animals to cyclops myth
Ancient Greeks may have based stories of one-eyed giants on elephant fossils and observations of tiny sea creatures. Modern biology shows single-eye structures in early vertebrates and some living crustaceans.
nypost.comworld26 days ago
Study Links T. rex Arm Size to Skull Growth Across Five Dinosaur Groups
A Royal Society paper published May 20 analyzed 85 dinosaur species and found that five predatory groups developed larger skulls and shorter forelimbs together. Researchers say the pattern appeared as prey size increased and jaws became the main weapon.
newatlas.comscience27 days ago
Study Links Human Immune Defenses to Ancient Microbial Virus Conflicts
Research indicates that key elements of the human immune system originated from microbial interactions with viruses billions of years ago. The findings connect early cellular mechanisms to present-day pathogen responses.
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The Sydney Morning Heraldworld32 days ago
Australian rocks yield 1.7-billion-year-old complex life fossils
A University of Sydney geobiologist examined ancient mudstone from the Northern Territory and identified microscopic fossils of early complex organisms. The study, published in Nature, shows these eukaryotes lived only in shallow oxygenated waters.
forbes.comscience35 days ago
Chronotype Variation Linked to Evolutionary Sentinel Role in Human Groups
Research on hunter-gatherer populations and genetic studies shows that morning and evening sleep preferences trace to ancient survival advantages. Chronotype diversity kept early human groups from sleeping simultaneously, reducing vulnerability to predators and threats.
Forbesscience37 days ago
Disgust Functions as Pathogen Avoidance and Extends to Social and Moral Domains
Disgust originated as a behavioral immune system to prevent ingestion of harmful substances. Research shows it later expanded to influence social and moral judgments through shared neural pathways.
Science Newsscience37 days ago
Crabs’ Sideways Walk Evolved Once 200 Million Years Ago
A study of 50 crab species found that sideways locomotion originated with a single ancestor roughly 200 million years ago. The trait is linked to the evolutionary success of the most diverse crab group, which now includes nearly 7,500 species. Researchers say the change required…
Science Newsscience40 days ago
Study Finds Between-Group Competition Correlates With Greater Male-Female Size Differences in Primates
A study published May 13, 2026, in Biology Letters finds that greater overlap in territories and more frequent group encounters correlate with larger males relative to females across 146 primate species. The traditional focus on within-group male competition for mates does not fu…
newscientist.comscience43 days ago
Angiosperm Genome Duplications Coincided With Nine Prehistoric Environmental Upheavals
Researchers identified 132 ancient genome duplications in flowering plants that clustered into nine periods between 108 million and 14 million years ago. Almost all coincided with major events including climate change, shifting oxygen levels and the asteroid impact that ended the…
Science Newsscience44 days ago
Robot Dinosaur Experiments Test Whether Proto-Wings Could Flush Insects
Scientists tested a robotic Caudipteryx and animated versions on live insects and locusts, finding visual displays with protowings triggered stronger escape responses. The studies, conducted in Seoul and published in 2024 and 2026, explore possible behaviors of early pennaraptora…
theconversation.comworld45 days ago
One Fifth of Flowering Plants' Evolutionary History at Risk of Extinction
More than 20 percent of the evolutionary history of the world's flowering plants is at risk of extinction, according to a study by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Zoological Society of London. The research examined the distribution of evolutionary branches across plant spe…
mises.orgscience54 days ago
Primates in Despotic Societies Exhibit Less Adult Play Behavior, Research Shows
A study found that apes, monkeys, and their relatives in despotic societies are less likely to engage in playful behavior as adults compared to those in more egalitarian groups. Researchers examined this pattern in non-human primates, drawing parallels to human social structures.…
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Science Newsscience59 days ago
Ancient DNA Study Links Immune Gene Variants to Reduced Allergy Risk
Researchers analyzing ancient genomes found that some infection-fighting gene variants from the past 10,000 years may lower the risk of asthma and allergies. The findings, detailed in a preprint and a Nature study, challenge simplistic views of immune evolution. Integration with…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewscience68 days ago
Study Examines Internal Conflict Among Ngogo Chimpanzees in Uganda's Kibale National Park
Researchers have documented a violent internal conflict within the Ngogo chimpanzee community in Uganda's Kibale National Park, resulting in the deaths of seven adult males and 17 infants. The study, based on long-term observations, analyzes how group polarization led to lethal a…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewscience72 days ago
Evolutionary Biologist Explains Biological Mechanism and Theories of Human Blushing
Blushing occurs when blood vessels in the face dilate in response to social situations, driven by the sympathetic nervous system. This response is involuntary and distinct from other autonomic reactions. Researchers have proposed theories linking blushing to social signaling and…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewscience73 days ago
Researchers Observe Conflict and Killings in Wild Chimpanzee Group with Parallels to Human Civil Wars
Researchers documented a violent conflict in a previously unified group of wild chimpanzees in Uganda's Budongo Forest. The study, published in Current Biology, details how the group split and engaged in lethal encounters over four years. The findings highlight similarities to pa…
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sciencealert.comscience75 days ago
Human Genetic Mutation Rate and Its Effects on Fitness Examined in New Scientist Column
A column in New Scientist discusses the human genetic mutation rate, which some researchers have linked to declines in physical and mental fitness. Columnist Michael Le Page argues that these mutations do not pose the health risks often attributed to them. The piece explores whet…
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Substrate placeholder — needs reviewtechnology78 days ago
Evolutionary Theories on the Purpose of Dreaming Remain Unresolved
Scientists continue to investigate the reasons behind dreaming, which occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep characterized by heightened brain activity and vivid imagery. Evolutionary biologists propose theories such as threat simulation, where dreams may serve as practice…