Sex and power in the animal kingdom: seven animals that will make you reconsider what you think you know

Narwhals, hummingbirds and the Asian sheepshead wrasse have opened scientists’ eyes to the complexity of nature.

Louise Gentle, Principal Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Sept. 27, 2022 ~8 min

Six recent discoveries that have changed how we think about human origins

You may have heard science has reconsidered its view of Neanderthals but did you know human hybrid species played a key role in our evolution?

Penny Spikins, Senior Lecturer in the Archaeology of Human Origins, University of York • conversation
Sept. 21, 2022 ~8 min


How did the patriarchy start – and will evolution get rid of it?

Not all human societies throughout history have been patriarchal.

Ruth Mace, Professor of Anthropology, UCL • conversation
Sept. 20, 2022 ~17 min

Humans evolved with their microbiomes – like genes, your gut microbes pass from one generation to the next

As early modern humans spread across the globe, their gut microbes genetically changed with them. Understanding the origins of gut microbes could improve understanding of their role in human health.

Ruth Ley, Director, Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology • conversation
Sept. 15, 2022 ~7 min

A fossil baby helped scientists explain how mammals thrived after the dinosaur extinction - new research

Palaeontologists studied Pantolambda fossils in forensic detail to learn about its lifestyle.

Gregory Funston, Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Edinburgh • conversation
Sept. 15, 2022 ~7 min

Human skin stood up better to the sun before there were sunscreens and parasols – an anthropologist explains why

Our ancient ancestors didn’t have clothes or houses – but that constant exposure to the sun helped their skin protect itself from the worst sun damage.

Nina G. Jablonski, Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology, Penn State • conversation
Sept. 6, 2022 ~9 min

Axolotls can regenerate their brains – these adorable salamanders are helping unlock the mysteries of brain evolution and regeneration

Axolotls are amphibians known for their ability to regrow their organs, including their brains. New research clarifies their regeneration process.

Ashley Maynard, PhD Candidate in Quantitative Developmental Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich • conversation
Sept. 1, 2022 ~8 min

Most human embryos naturally die after conception – restrictive abortion laws fail to take this embryo loss into account

Human embryos are far more likely to die than come to term, an evolutionary trait seen across species. Laws granting personhood at conception ignore built-in embryo loss, with potentially grave consequences.

Kathryn Kavanagh, Associate Professor of Biology, UMass Dartmouth • conversation
Sept. 1, 2022 ~10 min


Slime is all around and inside you – new research on its origins offers insight into genetic evolution

A vast array of species, including people, use slime for a variety of essential bodily functions. Studying the genetic ancestry of slime surprisingly showcases the role of repetitive DNA in evolution.

Omer Gokcumen, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo • conversation
Aug. 26, 2022 ~9 min

When was talking invented? A language scientist explains how this unique feature of human beings may have evolved

A language scientist explains that talking was never invented but has evolved over hundreds of thousands of years.

Richard Futrell, Associate Professor of Language Science, University of California, Irvine • conversation
Aug. 8, 2022 ~6 min

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