The origin of our centralized nervous system

The origin of our centralized nervous system

The rise of the central nervous system (CNS) in animal evolution has puzzled scientists for centuries. Vertebrates, insects and worms evolved from the same ancestor, but their CNSs are different and…
Human-chimp gene study upsets long-held view

Human-chimp gene study upsets long-held view

Put a human and a chimpanzee side by side, and it seems obvious which lineage has changed the most since the two diverged from a common ancestor millions of years ago. Such apparent physical…
Did Dinosaurs Become Chickens?

Did Dinosaurs Become Chickens?

Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have captured and sequenced tiny pieces of collagen protein from a 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex. The protein…
A prehistoric tale of an Italian whale

A prehistoric tale of an Italian whale

Fossils turn up in the most unusual places. Simone Casati, an amateur paleontologist, was exploring the famed vineyards of Italian winemaker, Castello Banfi, when he came across a small piece…
More flight than fancy?

More flight than fancy?

Scientists from the universities of Exeter and Cambridge have turned a textbook example of sexual selection on its head and shown that females may be more astute at choosing a mate than previously…
Prairie Road Trips, Vampire Squids and Mr. Spock

Prairie Road Trips, Vampire Squids and Mr. Spock

I grew up in the prairies and one of my favourite ways to relieve the boredom of long summer road trips was to examine the different bugs splattered on the windshield. I would try to figure out which…