Evolutionary Biology

5 stories

80-million-year-old snake brain reveals a surprising evolutionary secret

An exceptionally preserved snake fossil from Brazil reveals that early snakes were far more diverse than scientists once thought. Detailed brain reconstructions show that Tametara mirim was adapted for burrowing, while another ancient snake was suited to life above ground. Other fossils point to marine lifestyles as well. By 80 million years ago, snakes were already experimenting with very different habitats and sensory systems.

Newsdesk23 hours ago2 min read

Science

Forget the sperm race: Fertilization may depend on teamwork

Millions of sperm do not always compete alone—some species send them into action as coordinated teams. A sweeping evolutionary study found that this cooperation is widespread among arthropods and has repeatedly emerged and vanished over hundreds of millions of years. The discovery challenges the classic “fastest sperm wins” story and could influence future fertility research and pest-control strategies.

Newsdesk23 hours ago5 min read

Science

Potatoes may have given Indigenous Andeans a digestive superpower

The rise of the potato in the Andes appears to have left a lasting mark on human DNA. Indigenous Peruvians carry exceptionally high numbers of a starch-digestion gene, likely because people with more copies gained an evolutionary advantage once potatoes became a staple food. The change began thousands of years before European contact, providing unusually strong evidence that diet can shape human evolution.

Newsdesk23 hours ago4 min read

Science

Dogs can tell fear from sadness — and scientists saw it in their brains

Dogs may understand our emotions more deeply than scientists realized. Brain scans show that happy human faces activate regions in dogs linked to higher-level processing and reward, suggesting that smiles carry special emotional significance for them.

Newsdesk23 hours ago3 min read

Science

Scientists find evidence for two origins of life on Earth

Scientists probing life’s deepest origins have uncovered evidence that the first free-living cells may have emerged not once, but twice. The findings suggest a striking possibility: life may share one ancient genetic code, yet have undergone two separate transitions into free-living existence.

Newsdesk23 hours ago6 min read

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