Scientists discover five new species of black corals living thousands of feet below the ocean surface near the Great Barrier Reef

Black corals provide critical habitat for many creatures that live in the dark, often barren, deep sea, and researchers are learning more about these rare corals with every dive.

Jeremy Horowitz, Post-doctoral Fellow in Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution • conversation
Nov. 23, 2022 • ~6 min

8 billion people: how different the world would look if Neanderthals had prevailed

Neanderthals were wiped out by chance changes in the environment. The rise of Homo sapiens wasn’t inevitable.

Penny Spikins, Professor of the Archaeology of Human Origins, University of York • conversation
Nov. 16, 2022 • ~8 min

8 billion people: how evolution made it happen

Only insects populations can compare to rising human numbers.

Matthew Wills, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath • conversation
Nov. 15, 2022 • ~7 min

The study of evolution is fracturing – and that may be a good thing

There is more to evolution than the genes species inherit.

Erik Svensson, Professor (Evolutionary Ecology Unit, Department of Biology), Lund University • conversation
Nov. 9, 2022 • ~8 min

Neanderthals: how a carnivore diet may have led to their demise

Zinc in their bones reveal that these early humans were top of the food chain.

Paul Pettitt, Professor in the Department of Archaeology, Durham University • conversation
Nov. 3, 2022 • ~8 min

From radiation to water pollution to cities, humans are now a driver of evolution in the ‘natural’ world – podcast

In this week’s episode of The Conversation Weekly, we speak with three scientists who study the ways plants and animals evolve in a world dominated by humans.

Gemma Ware, Editor and Co-Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation • conversation
Oct. 27, 2022 • ~6 min

How we found microbes rarer than a ticket to the Moon

Microbes are so tiny humans can’t see them without special equipment. But the discovery of 20 new species will help scientists map the evolutionary tree of life.

James Weiss, Researcher, Microbiology, Bournemouth University • conversation
Oct. 25, 2022 • ~8 min

Humans are 8% virus – how the ancient viral DNA in your genome plays a role in human disease and development

Bits of viral genes incorporated into human DNA have been linked to cancer, ALS and schizophrenia. But many of these genes may not be harmful, and could even protect against infectious disease.

Aidan Burn, PhD Candidate in Genetics, Tufts University • conversation
Oct. 18, 2022 • ~7 min

Earth's oxygen has varied dramatically over time – here's how our data could help us spot alien life

We should not rule out taking a closer look at exoplanets that have a poorly oxygenated atmosphere.

Benjamin J. W. Mills, Associate Professor of Biogeochemical Modelling, University of Leeds • conversation
Oct. 14, 2022 • ~8 min

Insects will struggle to keep pace with global temperature rise – which could be bad news for humans

Climate change is exposing animals to temperatures outside of their normal limits – a new study has found that insects have a particularly weak ability to adjust.

Hester Weaving, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Bristol • conversation
Oct. 3, 2022 • ~7 min

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