Scientists accidentally discover a clue to evolution’s chicken-or-egg mystery
For biochemists, one big question has always been: which came first—oxygen-producing photosynthesis or oxygen-using metabolism?
A recent accidental discovery may hold the answer.
Photosynthesis is the...
Scientists solve mystery of the pink shores in the Red Sea
Visitors to the shores of Eilat in the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, during March and April in recent years have witnessed an...
Cosmic radiation altered virus evolution in Africa, study finds
Astronomers have known for some time that nearby supernovae have had a profound effect on Earth’s evolution.
For starters, Earth’s deposits of gold, platinum, and...
Whale poop: A surprising ocean fertilizer
Whales might have played a much bigger role in ocean life than we ever imagined.
Scientists have discovered that whale poop is rich in iron...
The biology of face and head formation
There’s a reason we can spot a friend in a crowd—humans are wired to focus on faces. We’re incredibly skilled at recognizing small differences...
Scientists uncover underwater fossil bed, revealing Florida’s prehistoric past
Around 500,000 years ago, a group of horses, sloths, and armadillos met an unfortunate fate when they fell into a sinkhole in Florida’s Big...
Are we alone? Intelligent life may be common in the universe, study finds
For a long time, scientists believed that human-like life was extremely rare in the universe.
The "hard steps" theory, proposed in 1983 by physicist Brandon...
Reintroducing wolves to Scotland could help fight climate change
Bringing wolves back to the Scottish Highlands could help restore native forests and absorb one million metric tons of CO2 every year, according to...
Hawaiian flies evolve super hearing to hunt crickets
Scientists from St. Olaf College and the University of Denver have discovered that a parasitic fly in Hawaii has developed super-sensitive hearing to track...
What’s that smell it’s sulfur – A new tool for finding alien life
Astronomers have identified sulfur as a potentially crucial indicator in narrowing the search for life on other planets.
While sulfur itself is not necessarily an...