New light shed on Charles Darwin's 'abominable mystery'

Historical documents are uncovered that provide clues to a puzzle that haunted Charles Darwin.

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evolution fossils

Dinosaurs may have 'flashed' each other with their bottoms, newly discovered fossil shows

A reconstruction of a dinosaur's back passage reveals it may have been used for visual communication.

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evolution dinosaurs paleontology social-communication paleolithic reconstruction

Spitting cobras may have evolved unique venom to defend from ancient humans

A toxin unique to spitting cobras means their venom causes more pain than other snakes.

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evolution animals venomous-snakes

Stickiness is a weapon some plants use to fend off hungry insects

For some sand-dwelling plants, stickiness is a defense tactic that keeps predators at bay.

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insects biology plants botany ants evolutionary-biology seeds convergent-evolution camouflage caterpillars

Natural wonder: Wing 'clap' solves mystery of butterfly flight

The cupped clap of a butterfly's wings may be the key to their flying abilities and their survival.

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evolution nature

New starfish-like fossil reveals evolution in action

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a fossil of the earliest starfish-like animal, which helps us understand the origins of the

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evolution fossil palaeontology

Starfish: rare fossil helps answer the mystery of how they evolved arms

New study sheds light on how the starfish evolved.

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evolution fossils animals starfish

Wing imprints reveal dino-era praying mantis

Researchers have identified a new species of praying mantis after discovering imprints of its fossilized wings in present-day Quebec.

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evolution insects fossils wings new-species science-and-technology

Parasites: what causes some species to evolve to exploit others

Even the most mutually-beneficial evolutionary relationship can turn sour.

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evolution animal-behaviour parasites parasitism cleaner-fish

One termite lineage took over by switching diets

"Termites are mostly misunderstood," says entomologist Thomas Chouvenc. Tracing their evolution shows they do more than eat wood and destroy homes.

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evolution insects termites science-and-technology earth-and-environment