Tag: Evolution
-
The day the dinosaurs died
A young scientist has found a record of the most significant event in the history of life on Earth. Stunning fossils show what happened when a huge asteroid slammed into the Gulf of Mexico.
-
‘Woolly mammoths could walk the Earth again’
Scientists in Japan have made a “significant step” towards bringing the ancient species back from the dead using the DNA of a frozen mammoth. But is it the right thing to do?
-
Humans may be among ‘walking dead’ species
Scientists in the USA and Mexico say mankind is now responsible for the sixth mass extinction event in Earth’s history. If we all die, will those who come next miss us?
-
Oldest fossils shed light on life’s beginning
Scientists claim to have found the oldest known fossils on Planet Earth. If they are right, the discovery suggests answers to huge questions: How did life begin? and Is it unique?
-
‘We are hardwired to live in our own bubbles’
In an era of fake news and political division, some fear we are too quick to ignore the facts we don’t like. Now a new book says we evolved to think this way. Can we overcome our nature?
-
The genetic accident behind all life on Earth
A new scientific study has found that 600 million years ago, a single cell mutated and Earth was changed forever. A dazzling range of complicated animals would follow. Could it happen again?
-
Life and death central to new wildlife series
The Hunt, which looks at the relationship between predators and prey in the natural world, began on BBC One last night. Should humans embrace our own killer instincts or rise above them?
-
Mystery worm sheds light on ancient evolution
It has taken scientists 100 years to understand the basic anatomy of a small extinct sea creature, after several scientific mistakes. Can we ever be sure of our scientific knowledge?
-
Drinking apes hint at evolution of alcoholism
For the first time ever, scientists have observed chimpanzees habitually drinking alcohol. Does the history of the world’s favourite drug stretch back beyond even the dawn of humans?
-
Bizarre ‘platypus’ dinosaur stuns scientists
A new ‘vegetarian’ cousin of the tyrannosaurus rex has been discovered in Chile, to the amazement of scientists worldwide. Could humans go the same way as the dinosaurs of Earth’s past?
-
Chimps are natural born killers study shows
Our closest animal cousins used to be thought peaceful and only rarely aggressive. But new research shows that they are naturally bloodthirsty. What does this reveal about human nature?
-
‘Arrogant’ humans urged to get more sleep
This week scientists have warned that we are all getting less sleep than ever before, which is leading to many serious health problems. But can sleep really be that important?
-
Violent crime on a downward turn in the UK
With less violence and fewer murders the UK is now much more peaceful than ten years ago, and it is a similar story in other developed countries. This is great news, but why is it happening?
-
Scientists claim humans have only four emotions
New research released this month shows that all human emotions can be reduced to just four basic facial expressions. Is our species less complex than we like to think?
-
Ancient thigh bone casts doubt on human origins
Archaeologists have discovered that DNA from a bone found in Spain is 400,000 years old and comes from a mysterious branch of the human family tree. What is our species’ true history?