You can't even begin to grasp biology, you cannot perceive life unless you perceive what it's all there for, however it arose - which means that evolution.-- Richard Dawkins.
An extinct animal from South America, whose fossils have confounded scientists for over 170 years, are now thought to be relatives of horses, thanks to mDNA analysis.
Five fossils of different individuals were found on 1961 by barite miners in Morocco. Now, on a study of a team, the fossils were suspected to be the earliest kind of Homo sapiens than what was already known in the history of evolution.
Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution believes that the first human has said to evolve in Africa. Now, fossils prove that it was in Europe and not in Africa.
3D printing has already established itself within the scientific community. It's been used to produce tools aboard the International Space Station, replicate body parts for surgical procedures, and now it's found a new niche among biologists studying bird behavior. It turns out, 3D printers produce mighty fine eggs.
Many species of snakes and lizards are able to change color, which helps them avoid detection, regulate their body temperature, and choose mates. But new research on panther chameleons shows that their colorful hides may not only aid in their survival, but might be concealing a range of species never before imagined.
The long relationship between humans and dogs has just been pushed back by tens of thousands of years, thanks to a small piece of rib bone found during an expedition to the far northern reaches of Siberia. And the genetics show that dogs split from wolves much earlier than we once believed.
Researchers at Yale University recently delved into the evolutionary history of snakes, and what they discovered was an ancient creature who lived over 120 million years ago in the warm forests of the Southern Hemisphere. And most interesting of all, this creature sported tiny hindlimbs, replete with ankles and toes.
In the cold waters off the California coast, researchers have discovered something no one ever knew existed: a warm-blooded fish. Not only can this large fish regulate its body temperature, but it does it through a truly unique mechanism.
The mighty mandibles of the trap-jaw ants are legendary in the animal kingdom. Members of the genus Odontomachus have specialized spring-loaded jaws that can snap shut at speeds of 60 meters per second, with forces that exceed 300 times their body weight. But in four species, those powerful jaws are not only great at catching prey, they can also aid in the ant's escape.
It was once believed that tool use was one of the signifying traits distinguishing humans from the rest of the animal world, but research has shown that is simply not the case. Chimps crack nuts, gorillas build rudimentary bridges, and dolphins use sponges to stir up the ocean floor, just to name a few. Scientists can now add macaques to the list, for it turns out they are quite handy with a hammer.
One of the latest breakthroughs from Yale scientists: the mighty dino-chicken. The Yale team used molecular manipulation to grow chicken embryos with Velociraptor snouts and published their results yesterday in the journal Evolution. The embryos did not hatch.