Human intelligence: how cognitive circuitry, rather than brain size, drove its evolution

The human brain uses up 20% of the energy we consume.

Marta Mirazon Lahr, Reader in Human Evolutionary Biology & Director of the Duckworth Collection, University of Cambridge • conversation
Dec. 13, 2023 ~7 min

Social isolation and loneliness linked to poor health – our study could help explain why

Inflammation could be the missing puzzle piece.

Line Jee Hartmann Rasmussen, Senior researcher of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University • conversation
Dec. 13, 2023 ~6 min


Why do people have wisdom teeth?

Two dental experts explain that these furthest-back molars may be a not-so-necessary leftover from early human evolution.

Seth M. Weinberg, Professor of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences and Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
Dec. 11, 2023 ~6 min

Lizards, insects and other species are evolving with climate change, but not fast enough

From dark dragonflies becoming paler to plants flowering earlier, some species are slowly evolving with the climate. Evolutionary biologists explain why few will evolve fast enough.

James Stroud, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
Nov. 21, 2023 ~10 min

Lizards, fish and other species are evolving with climate change, but not fast enough

From dark dragonflies becoming paler to plants flowering earlier, some species are slowly evolving with the climate. Evolutionary biologists explain why few will evolve fast enough.

James Stroud, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
Nov. 21, 2023 ~10 min

Climate change is altering animal brains and behavior − a neuroscientist explains how

Rapidly changing temperatures and sensory environments are challenging the nervous systems of many species. Animals will be forced to evolve to survive.

Sean O'Donnell, Professor of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science and Biology, Drexel University • conversation
Nov. 13, 2023 ~7 min

Vampire viruses prey on other viruses to replicate themselves − and may hold the key to new antiviral therapies

Researchers discovered a satellite virus latching onto the neck of another virus called MindFlayer. Studying the viral arms race between similar viruses could lead to new ways to fight infections.

Ivan Erill, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
Nov. 3, 2023 ~7 min

Cancer has many faces − 5 counterintuitive ways scientists are approaching cancer research to improve treatment and prevention

From math to evolutionary game theory, looking at cancer through different lenses can offer further insights on how to approach treatment resistance, metastasis and health disparities.

Vivian Lam, Associate Health and Biomedicine Editor • conversation
Nov. 1, 2023 ~11 min


Physics has long failed to explain life – but we're testing a groundbreaking new theory in the lab

Life seems to just mysteriously ‘emerge’ from non-living parts, such as elementary particles.

Lee Cronin, Regius Chair of Chemistry, University of Glasgow • conversation
Oct. 24, 2023 ~7 min

How animal traits have shaped the journey of species across the globe

New research looks at how different species have managed to cross geographic barriers throughout history and whether their individual traits played a crucial role in these journeys.

Sarah-Sophie Weil, PhD candidate, Swansea University • conversation
Oct. 17, 2023 ~7 min

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