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Is the Ida fossil the missing link?
On May 19, 2009, researchers unveiled a fossil called Ida. Within hours, headlines were abuzz with news of the missing link. But a day later, many scientists weren't so sure.
EVOLUTION
These articles explore evolution - the changes seen in the inherited traits of a population from one generation to the next. Evolution is one of the great mysteries of biology, since it is a slow process and difficult to study.
Stuff You Should Know
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Are humans really descended from apes?Since Charles Darwin published the theory of evolution by means of natural selection, myths and misinterpretations have eroded public understanding of his ideas. Ready to take another look at one of the related questions that just won't die? See more »
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Are there evolutionary roots to human obesity?
Thanks to our big brains, we humans have figured out ways to make food easily accessible (all 24 hours of the day). But in this era of obesity, can we pinpoint the very beginnings of when we started packing on the pounds -- and is it further back in time than the rise of fast food? See more »
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Are we all descended from a common female ancestor?
According to DNA research, we may all have a common ancestor, an African woman who lived thousands of years ago. How did scientists reach this conclusion? Is it even possible? See more »
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Are we at the beginning of the end of Western civilization?
Depending on whom and when you ask, everything from same-sex smooching to punk music portends the end of Western civilization. Do any of these cultural commentators have a case? See more »
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Are we entering the sixth major extinction on Earth?
Over the past few years, scientists have noted thousands of species disappearing from the face of the planet. Are we undergoing another mass extinction? What's causing it? Can it be stopped? See more »
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Can scientists make moths gay?
Scientists tricked male brown-tailed moths into trying to mate with one another instead of the females. But are sexuality and gender actually fluid concepts in the animal world? Explore animal sexuality, from intersexual clams to homosexual giraffes. See more »
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Do species converge or diverge as they evolve?
Maybe you've noticed that a lot of unrelated marine animals have a torpedo-like body -- a dolphin may not be related to a small fish, but the shape of both species gets each one through the water quickly. On the other hand, two similar species can evolve into entirely different species. So what's going on here: convergent or divergent evolution? See more »
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Fact or Fiction: Evolution Quiz
Evolution! Since its inception, the theory has spread both controversy and a new way of viewing our role on the planet. Where do the facts end and the fictions begin? See more »
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How are Fibonacci numbers expressed in nature?
Is there a magic equation to the universe? Probably not. But thanks to one man's obsession with rabbits, we have a sequence of numbers that reflect various patterns found in nature. See more »
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How are humans different from our ancestors?
Many of us don't have a clue as to what our great-great grandmother's name was. (No offense, great-great grandmas everywhere.) So imagine extending that family tree a few million years beyond that and seeing what our ancestors were up to. See more »
