Chilean mummies reveal a lost lineage of smallpox
Centuries-old DNA that was found in these mummies belongs to an extinct viral lineage of smallpox that was brought across the Atlantic during European colonization of the Americas
Everyone alive may carry DNA from a ‘ghost lineage’ of human ancestors
Scientists analyzing modern genomes may have found a long-lost branch of the human family tree
A unique cellular trick may explain octopus intelligence
A newly discovered change in ribosomal RNA makes protein production more precise, potentially safeguarding these cephalopods’ complex nervous systems
Avocado flowers switch sex daily—now we know why
New work explains how avocado trees coordinate a complex reproductive strategy, switching every day between male and female
Bees might carry tiny magnetic ‘compasses’
Magnetoreception is one of the most controversial animal senses. And several bee species might have it
This fabric is alive. Would you wear it?
This biodegradable textile is alive and can host engineered microbes that can change its color or add UV protection
Is it possible to regain a sense of smell? These scientists are working on it
Smell is one of the most complex and least understood senses
Can insects live in the ocean? These baby flies could offer clues
Nobody knows why insects aren't found living in the ocean. Scientists just eliminated one theory
These whales are the only ones that flip upside down. Now we know why
Southern right whales are the only whale species known to float upside down, and new drone footage suggests the purpose of the behavior could be to get a break from parenting
This adorable bobtail squid is raising a family at –1.6 degrees Celsius
The Arctic Ocean is one of the most extreme environments on Earth, but that’s not stopping this cephalopod
Neanderthals may have been just as smart as modern human peers
A new skull-based analysis of Neanderthal brains suggests that these ancient hominins’ range of intelligence largely overlapped with our own
Exclusive: See unprecedented images of Sunda clouded leopards, the ‘ghosts of the forest’
New, never-before-seen images provide a glimpse into the secretive lives of a clouded leopard species found in the dense rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra