evolution

Once believed to be unique to birds and mammals, sleep is found across the metazoan kingdom. Some animals, it seems, can’t live without it, though no one knows exactly why.

Questions about how E. coli evolves; spermatids in a dish; fighting bacteria with virus-like molecule; what drives metastasis; antibodies fight Ebola in monkeys

By tweaking certain conditions of a long-running experiment on E. coli, scientists found that some bacteria could be prompted to express a mutant phenotype sooner, without the “generation of new genetic information.” The resulting debate—whether the data support evolutionary theory—is more about semantics than science.

A synthetic interview with the father of evolutionary theory, now available as a smartphone app, teaches students and the public about the famed biologist.

Plants can’t run away from attackers, so they’ve evolved unique immune defenses to protect themselves.

Associate Professor, Virginia Tech, Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Age: 37

See a preview of the app that lets you ask questions of a virtual Charles Darwin.

Researchers confirm the unprecedented endothermic abilities of a South American reptile.

Researchers identify a molecule that may have been key to the surprisingly common transition from single-celled ancestors to today’s complex, multicellular organisms. 

What researchers are learning as they sequence, map, and decode species’ genomes

Exceptional neural fossil preservation helps answer questions about ancient arthropod evolution.

Understanding the biological roots of cooperation might help resolve some of the biggest scientific challenges we face.

Meet some of the people featured in the January 2016 issue of The Scientist.

What can social networks among hunter-gatherers in Tanzania teach us about how cooperation evolved in human populations?

How organisms keep their biological partners from cheating

The genomes of a 5,200-year-old woman and three 4,000-year-old men yield clues about the founding of Celtic populations.

A genomic study suggests that dogs diverged from wolves in Southeast Asia 33,000 years ago, contrary to reports placing their origins elsewhere on the continent.

Bacteria growing in an unchanging environment continue to adapt indefinitely.

Phylogenetic analysis of DNA isolated from human hair follicle–dwelling mites shows that different lineages of the arthropods are associated with hosts with different regional ancestries.

Researchers studying city-dwelling birds are learning about which animals are more suited to urban life.