Evolution

A new study finds populations of several frog species in Panama appear to be gaining resistance to a deadly pathogen that can lead to extinction.

• By Morgan Erickson-Davis

At least one sea creature—the purple sea urchin—appears to pass on the ability to rapidly adapt to a harsh environment.

• By Kate Wheeling

We always assumed humans were the only species to create art. It now seems we were wrong.

• By Tom Jacobs

Researchers have discovered a new organism that has no known evolutionary relatives, causing them to reconsider how genes evolve.

• By Melanie Silvis

Chimpanzees and children as young as six will pay to see offenders punished, suggesting justice-seeking behavior in humans has deep evolutionary roots.

• By Kate Wheeling

The fish, called O'opu, have developed the ingenious ability to climb hundreds of feet up the side of waterfalls in order to breed.

• By Alison Nugent

Numerous species are evolving to cope with the dirge of pollutants put into the world by human beings, and it's taking a toll.

• By Brittney Borowiec

Turns out, our ancient ancestors' consumption of fermented fruits created a genetic mutation that be the cause of alcoholism in people today.

• By Irene Park

The extinction crisis extends far beyond rare and endangered species.

• By J.B. MacKinnon

A conversation with biologist David P. Barash on the biological underpinnings of human polygamy.

• By Libby Copeland

A species of animal is defined as much by its culture as by its genetics. By that criterion, humanity’s status is quite precarious.

• By Steven I. Weiss

A study shows that most of the variation in plants and trees comes down to just two factors: overall size and the "leaf economics spectrum."

• By Nathan Collins

Ringtailed lemurs, just like humans, reserve conversation for those they feel more connected with.

• By Madeleine Thomas

A biologist uses Darwin's theory to understand the history of creationist "academic freedom" and "science education" laws.

• By Nathan Collins

A novel study suggests nature just wanted a little variety.

• By Nathan Collins

Scientists find that, compared to our closest primate relatives, the landscape of the human brain is exceptionally sensitive to external influences.

• By Kate Wheeling

Backyard breeders are creating a new kind of hero honeybee—one that chomps off the legs of mites and saves the hive.

• By Susan Cosier

Is nature nasty, brutish, and at war with itself—or is it all about co-existence? A punk rocker argues the latter.

• By Princess Ojiaku

New research suggests seeing the natural world as purposefully created is our default setting.

• By Tom Jacobs

Hominids have been handy for very long time.

• By Francie Diep

Presidential hopeful Ben Carson isn't the only practitioner who's got some doubts.

• By Francie Diep

New research pinpoints three years of particularly rapid change.

• By Tom Jacobs

Doubt is inherently human and it has a useful purpose, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to keep questioning climate change, evolution, and the power of vaccines.

• By Cynthia Leifer

Consuming bad news is evolutionarily adaptive, but the nature of the social Web might limit its supply.

• By Paul Hiebert