A team of biologists and mathematicians studied hours of video to learn how insects take shape in the egg. The secret is geometry.
Tag: Evolution (Biology)
How Penguins Beat the Heat and Went South
Scientists reconstructed some of the evolutionary steps that led penguins to quit tropical climates for the Antarctic life over millions of years.
Started Out as a Fish. How Did It End Up Like This?
A meme about the transitional fossil Tiktaalik argues that although we did come out of the sea, we aren’t doing just fine.
What the Future May Hold for the Coronavirus and Us
Viral evolution is a long game. Here’s where scientists think we could be headed.
Australia’s Trash Parrots Invent New Skill in Suburbs
Sydney’s clever and adaptable sulfur-crested cockatoos learn how to pry open garbage bins by watching one another.
This Endangered Bird Lost Its Song in Australia
New generations of a critically endangered species of songbird are failing to learn the tunes they need for courtship. It could lead to extinction.
He Was a Stick, She Was a Leaf; Together They Made History
A surprise clutch of eggs has solved a century-old leaf insect mystery.
Viking Age Smallpox Complicates Story of Viral Evolution
An extinct version of the smallpox virus dating to 1,400 years ago prompts speculation about viruses becoming more lethal over time.
Elephants Really Can’t Hold Their Liquor
Humans and other species have a gene mutation that lets them digest alcohol. In other species, it’s missing.
Did a Mutation Turbocharge the Coronavirus? Not Likely, Scientists Say
A preliminary report posted online claimed that a mutation had made the virus more transmissible. Geneticists say the evidence isn’t there.