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

How does fever help fight infections? There's more to it than even some scientists realize

The heat and chills that come with fever are not only uncomfortable but also metabolically costly. Increased body temperature, however, can make all the difference when you’re sick.

Joe Alcock, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico • conversation
Sept. 11, 2023 • ~8 min

Power struggles in nature can be more subtle, nuanced and strategic than just dog-eat-dog

Life can be a struggle for power – not just for people but for nonhuman animals, too. An animal behaviorist explains how this quest can be more Shakespearean drama than boxing match.

Lee Alan Dugatkin, Professor of Biology and Distinguished Arts and Science Scholar, University of Louisville • conversation
Jan. 27, 2023 • ~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

Celibacy: family history of Tibetan monks reveals evolutionary advantages in monasticism – podcast

Listen to the first episode of Discovery, a new series available via The Conversation Weekly podcast, telling the stories of fascinating new research discoveries from around the world.

Gemma Ware, Editor and Co-Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation • conversation
Oct. 31, 2022 • ~3 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

Neanderthals died out 40,000 years ago, but there has never been more of their DNA on Earth

Here’s what we can learn from our closest extinct relatives.

Trine Kellberg Nielsen, Associate Professor, Department of Archeology and Heritage Studies, Aarhus University • conversation
Aug. 31, 2022 • ~8 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

Why do animals have tails?

An anthropologist explains some of the many ways animals use their tails, from balancing as they walk to attracting a mate.

Michael A. Little, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
Aug. 15, 2022 • ~6 min

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