Billions of cicadas are about to emerge from underground in a rare double-brood convergence
The last time that these two groups of cicadas emerged from underground together, Thomas Jefferson was president.
April 18, 2024 • ~11 min
Horses lived in the Americas for millions of years – new research helps paleontologists understand the fossils we’ve found and those that are missing from the record
Horse fossils are abundant and widespread across North America. Scientists often use their long history to illustrate how species evolve in response to a changing environment.
March 27, 2024 • ~9 min
Why did modern humans replace the Neanderthals? The key might lie in our social structures
Neanderthals and humans may have been equally smart and skilled, but some evidence points to humans living in larger groups.
March 26, 2024 • ~8 min
Losing their tails provided our ape ancestors with an evolutionary advantage – but we’re still paying the price
Many evolutionary changes also come with costs.
Feb. 28, 2024 • ~7 min
Bacteria can develop resistance to drugs they haven’t encountered before − scientists figured this out decades ago in a classic experiment
The Nobel Prize-winning Luria−Delbrück experiment showed that random mutations in bacteria can allow them to develop resistance by chance.
Feb. 22, 2024 • ~7 min
Men become less fertile with age, but the same isn’t true for all animals – new study
Understanding how the ageing of sperm works in other animals is more important than ever as human male fertility is in decline.
Feb. 14, 2024 • ~8 min
We’ve found out how earless moths use sound to defend themselves against bats – and it could give engineers new ideas
The ermine moth’s wing structures are fascinating because they rely on a mechanism we teach our engineering students to avoid
Feb. 6, 2024 • ~8 min
Newly identified prehistoric pterosaur will help us understand evolution of flying reptiles
The Isle of Skye has a rich palaeontological heritage, so perhaps it’s no surprise scientists made an important discovery there.
Feb. 6, 2024 • ~7 min
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