Despite the prevalent view that people with large bodies should simply eat less and move more, it’s nearly impossible to fight our genetic heritage or other factors that are not within our control.
Articles on Evolution
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Ancient humans chose to sleep less, which had evolutionary benefits. For modern humans, sleeping less is futile and detrimental, but fitness may be a powerful ally in today’s epidemic of sleep loss.
Invisible to the naked eye, the work of the wind often goes unnoticed. Yet, for millennia, this unseen force has shaped religion, trade, warfare, culture, science and more.
Most of the males in a Puerto Rican monkey colony engaged in homosexual activity, a new study reveals.
Rhino rays, which are close relative of sharks, are some of the most fascinating – and most threatened – fishes that you’ve never heard of.
This caterpillar can cause excruciating pain when touched. But unlike most venomous arthropods, it uses its venom purely for self-defence.
There’s no single reason many Asian animals spread to Australia but few went the other way – but climate, geography and the slow drift of tectonic plates all played a role.
From jellyfish to genius, the amazing diversity of animal minds around us evolved through five major changes in the computational capacity of brains.
There are areas of biology that may be considered optional at younger year levels, such as botany, entomology and marine ecosystems. Evolution is not one of these.
New research shows that placental mammals survived the mass extinction that killed the
dinosaurs.
When fruit flies see other dead fruit flies, their life spans are cut short. Other species also undergo analogous physiological changes when seeing their dead.
If you think relationships between male and female animals are simple, it’s time to have a rethink.
Masturbation seems like an evolutionary conundrum. New research has found an explanation.
New research suggests insects have pollinated flowers since the pollen-bearing blooms first evolved more than 140 million years ago.
Take a moment to consider the natural beauty of mosses – and their history as some of the most intrepid explorers in Earth’s history.
The Paleo Diet is popular, but research has yet to substantiate its purported health benefits. As evolutionary anthropologists, here’s why we think it’s time to leave the Paleo Diet in the past.
Genetic evidence reveals a long, previously unknown period of adaptation to cold climates in the history of ancient human migrations across the globe.
Orcas appear to be imitating the behaviour of one in particular by damaging sailboat rudders.
The question of how difficult it is for life to emerge is interesting – not least because it can shed some light on the likelihood of finding life on other planets.
The natural world is awash with liars – here are nature’s best.
Top contributors
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Scientia Professor of Evolution, UNSW
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Emeritus Strategic Professor in Palaeontology, Flinders University
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Senior Research Scientist, South Australian Museum; Flinders University
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Honorary Associate Professor, UNSW
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Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath
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Senior Lecturer in Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology, Life Sciences at the University of Bath, University of Bath
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Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Monash University
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Associate professor in Vertebrate Palaeontology, University of the Witwatersrand
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Principal Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Nottingham Trent University
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Research Associate in the College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University
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Jenny Graves is a Friend of The Conversation.
Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Vice Chancellor's Fellow, La Trobe University
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Adjunct Research Associate, Monash University
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Mark Elgar is a Friend of The Conversation.
Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology, The University of Melbourne
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Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University
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Professor of Earth System Science, UCL