Life Science

From the smallest microbe to the largest mammal, Life Science explores the origins, evolution and expansion of life in all its forms. Explore a wide range of topics from biology to genetics and evolution.

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Yes, Neanderthals Could Laugh

The more we research our closest extinct human ancestor, the more we realize how similar we were. But could we have shared a joke?

By Jesslyn Shields Dec 5, 2018 Life Science / Evolution

How Dopamine Works

You could call dopamine the most misunderstood neurochemical in the brain. It's allegedly the cause of people getting addicted to drugs, chocolate or video games. But what does really dopamine do?

By Patrick J. Kiger Inside the Mind / The Human Brain

Mothers Prefer Daughters, Fathers Prefer Sons, Study Says

A new study shows that mothers prefer daughters and fathers prefer sons, regardless of economic background, contradicting an earlier well-known hypothesis.

By Alia Hoyt Nov 26, 2018 Inside the Mind / Emotions

DNA Evidence Uncovers Two Forgotten North American Migrations

North Americans have been moving south for tens of thousands of years.

By Chris Opfer Nov 8, 2018 Life Science / Genetic Science

Creating Superhumans Through Gene Manipulation and More

Superhuman powers are rare, but some do exist. But what if scientists used gene manipulation to create humans with super strength and abilities in the future — like super soldiers?

By Diana Brown Oct 30, 2018 Life Science / Genetic Science

Do Plants Make Music?

Machines can translate some of the biological functions of plants into synthesizer sounds. But are these synthesized translations the same thing as music?

By Jesslyn Shields Oct 25, 2018 Botany / Flowering Plants, Shrubs and Trees

Rare Groundcherry Could Soon Be Everywhere, Thanks to Gene Editing

Hundreds of crops in developing countries are relatively unknown in the developed world because they're often hard to grow or export. But scientists have found that CRISPR editing can speed up traditional plant breeding techniques.

By Dave Roos Oct 19, 2018 Botany / Flowering Plants, Shrubs and Trees

Plants Evolve Scents and Colors to Attract Animals for Seed Dispersal

How does a plant — incapable of waving its arms or screaming — attract attention and spread its seed? By evolving a powerful stink or an attractive color, of course.

By Jesslyn Shields Oct 18, 2018 Botany / Flowering Plants, Shrubs and Trees

Interbreeding with Neanderthals Gave Humans Virus Protections

New research suggests modern humans owe some of our genetic resistance against RNA viruses to our Neanderthal ancestors.

By Jesslyn Shields Oct 9, 2018 Life Science / Evolution

Why Can We Hear Others' Footsteps, But Not Our Own?

The noises that others make — be it walking, chewing or breathing heavily — are very noticeable to us. Yet we seldom hear it in ourselves. Why is that?

By Alia Hoyt Sep 25, 2018 Inside the Mind / The Human Brain

Unicorn Root Resurrects Itself After 130 Years

Can a plant disappear for more than a century and then come back? Unicorn root, gone for 130 years, reappeared in the summer of 2018, completely out of the blue.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 30, 2018 Botany / Flowering Plants, Shrubs and Trees

Ancient Egyptian Pregnancy Test Survived Millenia Because It Worked

A strange, but surprisingly accurate, ancient Egyptian pregnancy test survived for millennia and was spread around Africa and Europe because it was just that effective.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 22, 2018 Life Science / Biological Fields

Laziness May Have Doomed This Human Ancestor

Homo erectus lived for more than a million years on Earth, but laziness and lack of innovation might have been the death of them.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 22, 2018 Life Science / Evolution

Did Schizophrenia Evolve Along With Our Brains?

Turns out that evolutionary advantages can come with a price.

By Robert Lamb Aug 13, 2018 Life Science / Evolution

Composite Faces from DNA Help Solve Cold Cases

Composites from DNA in cold cases is helping investigators make predictions about the appearance of both suspects and victims in hopes of generating leads.

By Patrick J. Kiger Aug 1, 2018 Life Science / Genetic Science

Can You Be Addicted to Endorphins?

Roller coaster junkies rejoice: Riding these coasters could be a safe way to deal with your addiction to endorphins.

By Alia Hoyt Jul 30, 2018 Inside the Mind / The Human Brain

5 True Stories of Twins Separated at Birth

What happens when twins are reunited decades later? And how in the world can you explain separated twins giving their firstborn son or their family dog the same exact name?

By John Donovan Life Science / Genetic Science

Your First Memory Is Probably Fiction

Is your first memory of lying in a crib? You may want to revisit that. A new large study found that nearly 40 percent of participants had a first memory that was improbably early.

By Alia Hoyt Jul 27, 2018 Inside the Mind / The Human Brain

Earth's Oldest Color Was Pink

Scientists have found that ancient fossilized chlorophyll was dark red and purple in its concentrated form, which means that when diluted by water or soil, it would have lent a pink cast to earth and sea.

By Laurie L. Dove Jul 26, 2018 Life Science / Cellular & Microscopic Biology

Otzi the Iceman Ate a High-fat Last Meal

Researchers say that Otzi, the ancient man found in the Alps in 1991, lived on a diet loaded with fat to maintain warmth and energy in his cold, high-altitude environment.

By Patrick J. Kiger Jul 16, 2018 Life Science / Biological Fields

Why Walking Through Doorways Makes Us Forget

Ever walked from your kitchen to the living room to find your phone and then forgotten what you were looking for once you got there? Researchers think your brain is hard-wired to undergo precisely that process of forgetting.

By Nathan Chandler Jul 10, 2018 Inside the Mind / The Human Brain