Distant supernovae may have shaped the world's environments.

Bizarre theory: supernovas kickstarted human evolution

Gotta Go Fast

New research suggests that a cascade of supernovae could have been instrumental in human evolution by creating an environment where bipedal animals thrive.

Bizarre Theory: Supernovas Kickstarted Human Evolution

Cosmic explosions could have set up the conditions for bipedal animals to thrive.

Evolutionary Biology on Mars | Scott Solomon | TEDxUniversityofHouston

"If we eventually come to inhabit multiple worlds scattered across the gallery, over time, we may see the evolution of a plethora of new human species."

Evolutionary biologist: Mars colonists will mutate really fast

Off World

As we move closer to colonizing Mars, one evolutionary biologist wonders: how will humans evolve to cope with life on the Red Planet?

Evolutionary Biologist: Mars Colonists Will Mutate Really Fast

Human life — and genetics — will never be the same for Mars' future inhabitants. 

Two robotic parents can merge their code into an "offspring."

Scientists are teaching AI-powered robots to reproduce, evolve

Busy Bots

Evolutionary robotics could give rise to machines that program their offspring, so to speak, using their own code and programming.

Scientists Are Teaching AI-Powered Robots to Reproduce, Evolve

Brings new meaning to "cybersex."

The researchers called it an "appreciable slowdown."

Human mutation is slowing down

Mutant Avenger

The human mutation rate has slowed down significantly over the past million years or so, firming up the timeline of primate evolution.

Human Mutation Is Slowing Down

Humans are mutating more slowly than our closest relatives.

We still have so much to learn about life on Earth.

New research adds another branch to the evolutionary tree of life

Darwin Award

Researchers studying a tiny microbe discover that it warrants the creation of an entirely new branch on the Charles Darwin-created Tree of Life.

New Research Adds Another Branch to the Evolutionary Tree of Life

A tiny microbe has found its true home.

Elephants are adapting to survive the ivory trade.

Poaching is forcing elephants to evolve away from having tusks

Elon Tusk

Poachers on the hunt for elephant tusks have strained the population to the point that they're forcing the hand of evolution, according to new research.

Poaching Is Forcing Elephants to Evolve Away From Having Tusks

Poaching is swaying the hand of evolution.

Neanderthal minibrains had some connections between neurons that looked different than your average human brain.

Lab-grown Neanderthal minibrains reveal how they're different from humans'

Hard Science

Scientists used stem cells to grow a miniature model of a Neanderthal's brain for the first time. The tiny blob of neurons reveals what makes us different.

Lab-Grown Neanderthal Minibrains Reveal How They’re Different From Humans’

Miniature brains made with Neanderthal DNA grew differently from human ones.

Animals that evolved traits explicitly for attracting a mate went extinct ten times faster.

Sexy species died off quicker. That has conservationists worried.

Earth & Energy

Conservationists may need to adjust their priorities because modern animals with gaudy male-female differences could be in similar danger.

Sexy Species Died Off Quicker. That Has Conservationists Worried.

A new study suggests that dramatic physical features might look cool, but less-sexy species survive.

The life all around us could have started in ice-covered grains of dust.

Scientists find new evidence that life could have begun in space

The research found that some building blocks of life could form in frozen films of methane and oxygen in a radiation-filled vacuum.

Scientists Find New Evidence That Life Could Have Begun In Space

This could point to space as the place of origin for life on Earth.

Scientists are debating whether we really are (or aren't) unique.

A key evolutionary step may mean intelligent alien life doesn't exist in the universe

In an instant, life got much more complex. That event is so rare that it might change how scientists look for life elsewhere in the universe.   

/Evolution

Gotta Go Fast

Bizarre Theory: Supernovas Kickstarted Human Evolution

Off World

Evolutionary Biologist: Mars Colonists Will Mutate Really Fast

Busy Bots

Scientists Are Teaching AI-Powered Robots to Reproduce, Evolve

Mutant Avenger

Human Mutation Is Slowing Down

Darwin Award

New Research Adds Another Branch to the Evolutionary Tree of Life

Elon Tusk

Poaching Is Forcing Elephants to Evolve Away From Having Tusks

Hard Science

Lab-Grown Neanderthal Minibrains Reveal How They’re Different From Humans’

Earth & Energy

Sexy Species Died Off Quicker. That Has Conservationists Worried.

Hard Science

Scientists Find New Evidence That Life Could Have Begun In Space

Off World

A Key Evolutionary Step May Mean Intelligent Alien Life Doesn’t Exist in the Universe

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