Ancient viruses helped shape our bodies, brain millions of years ago

Millions of years ago, vertebrates were infected by a virus, which played an important role in the evolution of human beings and the development of brains and human bodies.

Food preservation began human brain growth

A study by evolutionary neuroscientists suggests our minds develop thanks to fermentation. It made food easier to digest and contained more nutrients, facilitating our grey matter’s development.

Dinosaurs may have influenced how human beings age

The 'longevity bottleneck' hypothesis has been proposed by Professor Joao Pedro de Magalhaes from the UK. The hypothesis connects the role that dinosaurs played over 100 million years with the aging process in mammals.

'Assembly theory' unifies physics and biology to explain evolution

An international team of researchers has developed a new theoretical framework that bridges physics and biology to provide a unified approach for understanding how complexity and evolution emerge in nature.

New fossil scull found in Turkey challenges human evolution

The new discovery lends weight to the theory that the hominins first evolved in Europe before migrating to Africa 7–9 million years ago.

New research links climate change to shrinking brain size in modern humans

A new study suggests that decreases in brain size in modern humans may be driven by natural selection in response to climate change and environmental stress, starting around 15,000 years ago. 

Disappearing Y chromosomes may pave way for new human species

A new study found that the Y chromosomes are degenerating gradually across many species of mammals.

Giant Study Identifies Dominant Force Driving Evolution on Earth Today

Mounting evidence suggests humans are now a major driving force of evolution on Earth. We're altering so much of our world that we're not only now driving the climate, but the direction of life itself.

The Origins of Human Empathy May Go All The Way Back to The Ocean

A new study has provided evidence of the chemical mechanisms behind the spreading of fear among zebrafish, hinting that human empathy could have originated in our aquatic ancestors hundreds of millions of years ago.

Evolution Came Before Life, A Research Suggests

According to the research, nature could have selected building blocks with useful properties before the Darwinian evolution.

Humans Keep Growing an Extra Artery in Their Arms

Since the 18th century the prevalence of this extra artery is increasing. The prevalence was around 10 % in people born in the mid-1880s compared to 30 % in those born in the late 20th century,  - a significant increase in a fairly short period of time.

Evolution could be happening four times faster than previously believed

The team of 40 researchers from 27 scientific institutions used studies of 19 populations of wild animals from around the world.

Happiness and the evolution of brain size

During human evolution, the size of the brain increased. A new research shows that serotonin can act as a growth factor for the stem cells in the fetal human brain that determine brain size.

Oldest ever human genetic evidence

An important advancement in human evolution studies has been achieved after scientists retrieved the oldest human genetic data set from an 800,000-year-old tooth belonging to the hominin species Homo antecessor.

Ancestor of all animals identified in Australian fossils

Geologists have discovered the first ancestor on the family tree that contains most animals today, including humans. The wormlike creature, Ikaria wariootia, is the earliest bilaterian.