Genetics Archives

5,000 Years Ago, Two Ancient Megalithic Societies Shared an Unknown Connection—Now Genetic Science Reveals Their Long-Hidden Secrets

Christopher Plain·May 22, 2026

Tests reveal that megalithic communities responsible for these massive stone monuments in ancient Europe were actually genetically related.

A Hot Pink Katydid Just Pulled Off One of Nature’s Most Surprising Camouflage Tricks

Austin Burgess·May 11, 2026

The findings, published in Ecology, center on Arota festae, a leaf-mimicking katydid found in Panama, Colombia, and Suriname.

Twin Study Suggests Genetics May Strongly Influence IQ and Future Success

Tim McMillan·May 8, 2026

Recent twin study suggests genetics may play a major role in IQ, education, and long-term socioeconomic success.

Genetic Research Reframes Archaeological Understanding of How the Germanic People Arose 1500-Years-Ago in the Roman Collapse

Ryan Whalen·May 4, 2026

European genetic research offers surprising insights into who lived along the Roman frontier as the empire fell and Germanic peoples arose.

Researchers Say Genetics Plays Larger Role in Longevity Than Thought

Austin Burgess·April 22, 2026

Researchers found that genetics may account for about half of the variation in human lifespan, which is at least twice as much as previous estimates and, in some cases, much higher.

Surprising 100,000-Year-Old Neanderthal DNA Discovery Rewrites the Species’ History in Central Europe

Ryan Whalen·April 22, 2026

Understanding of Neanderthal prehistory in Europe is changing rapidly, thanks to several sets of remains discovered in Poland’s Stajnia Cave.

10,000 Years of Human Evolution Reveals Natural Selection is Accelerating, Recent Human Genome Study Reveals

Ryan Whalen·April 16, 2026

The human genome of West Eurasia has been far more affected by natural selection in the last 10,000 years than previously suspected.

8,000-Year-Old Discoveries at Turkey’s Enigmatic Çatalhöyük Site Reveal “More than Just Blood Relations” Driving Ancient Kinship

Ryan Whalen·April 14, 2026

Investigating questions of kinship, archaeologists discovered that treating non-blood relatives as family goes back to the ancient past.

New Genetic Study of the Famous ‘Shroud of Turin’ Reopens Debate Over the Controversial Relic’s Origins

Micah Hanks·April 6, 2026

A new genetic study of the famous Shroud of Turin has revealed the complex interactions it has had with its environment over the centuries.

Scientists Discover Unusual Pigment Structures in Platypus Fur

Austin Burgess·March 25, 2026

A recent study published in Biology Letters reports that platypus hair contains hollow, spherical melanosomes, a combination not previously documented in mammals or other vertebrates.

Genetic Study Rewrites the Story of Human and Neanderthal Interbreeding, Pointing to Social Interaction, Not Just Survival

Ryan Whalen·March 2, 2026

Genetic research indicates that Neanderthal and Homor Sapiens interbreeding was socially driven to an unexpected degree.

Moving at the Speed of Sight: Humans and Animals Experience Time at Dramatically Different Speeds

Christopher Plain·February 26, 2026

All animals, including humans. experience time at dramatically different speeds, allowing fast-pursuit predators to track prey in slow motion

Scientists Discover Hidden DNA Scaffolding Built Before Life ‘Switches On’

Tim McMillan·February 26, 2026

Scientists discover hidden DNA scaffolding that forms before genes activate, revealing life’s blueprint is built before it begins.

“If Melting Ice Releases These Microbes, These Genes Could Spread”: Ancient Bacteria Frozen for 5,000 Years Show Resistance to Modern Antibiotics

Christopher Plain·February 18, 2026

Studies of ancient bacteria strains hidden in a frozen Romanian ice cave find they are resistant to several modern-day antibiotics

This Remote Greek Peninsula May Preserve a Living Link to the Ancient World

Austin Burgess·February 14, 2026

A remote peninsula in southern Greece may hold a living genetic link to the ancient Mediterranean world.

Colossal Biosciences Announces World’s First “BioVault” in New Collaboration with UAE to Combat Extinction

Micah Hanks·February 3, 2026

The creation of the world's first "biovault" was announced this week, marking a new initiative that experts have likened to a “Noah’s Ark” for the preservation of genetic material from animal species.

Closer to Home: New DNA Analysis Reframes the Story of the “Beachy Head Woman”

Austin Burgess·January 29, 2026

For over a decade, the Roman-era skeleton known as the Beachy Head Woman has fueled discussions about the identity of the remains as well as migration in ancient Britain.

“Auto-Brewery Syndrome”: What Happens When the Body Starts Brewing Its Own Alcohol?

Austin Burgess·January 20, 2026

A very small number of people can naturally experience symptoms of intoxication despite not consuming any alcohol.

Ancient DNA Reveals a Virus That Learned to Live Inside the Human Genome

Austin Burgess·January 17, 2026

A virus that infects nearly all children early in life has, in rare cases, been present within human DNA for thousands of years.

‘Check Engine Light’ for the Human Body Could Tell You When to Go to the Doctor

Christopher Plain·January 13, 2026

Scientists have created an implantable artificial 'skin' that glows like a check engine light for the human body when it senses a problem.

Ancient Teeth Reveal a Surprise That Challenges Our Ideas on Early Migrations Into England

Austin Burgess·January 13, 2026

A recent bioarchaeological study shows that human migration in England continued from the end of Roman rule through the Norman Conquest.

Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA Discovered? 500-Year-Old Disputed Drawing May Preserve Genetic Material Linked to Renaissance Artist

Ryan Whalen·January 9, 2026

Researchers report having collected DNA they believe to belong to the legendary artist Leonardo da Vinci, offering new insights on the artist.

Colossal Foundation Expands Its Ambitious Genetic Rescue and De-Extinction Programs to Save Endangered Species

Micah Hanks·December 17, 2025

Colossal Foundation, the nonprofit element of the Texas-based de-extinction and conservation science company Colossal Biosciences, has announced a $50 million funding boost that is advancing its efforts to support wildlife recovery projects.

Bearly Wild? Study Confirms Bears Living Near Humans Evolved to Become More Tame

Christopher Plain·December 17, 2025

Modern species of bears living near humans for extended periods show evidence of genetic changes making them less aggressive than others.

4000-Year-Old Discovery Offers Breakthrough in the Mystery of What Fueled a Bronze Age Plague

Austin Burgess·December 16, 2025

Scientists have unraveled how an early form of Bronze Age plague that differed from the Black Death spread across Europe.

This Tiny Worm Could Hold a Major Clue to How the Brain Regulates Aging

Austin Burgess·December 4, 2025

A surprising discovery from aging researchers shows that dietary restriction isn’t enough to extend lifespan on its own.

Forensic Investigators Using Cutting-Edge Science Have Finally Solved a Medieval Murder Mystery

Austin Burgess·December 3, 2025

Researchers have used cutting-edge forensic science to solve a medieval mystery that has perplexed scholars for more than a century.

Researchers Trace How a Psychedelic Compound Alters Brain Circuits Tied to Addiction

Austin Burgess·November 18, 2025

Scientists have identified a neural mechanism that could explain how a psychedelic compound reduces alcohol intake.

Neanderthals’ Disappearance May Not Have Been from Extinction, Controversial New Study Argues

Micah Hanks·November 14, 2025

Neanderthals may not have truly gone extinct, according to a new mathematical model that suggests they underwent genetic dilution over time.

No, Your Gut Microbiome Doesn’t Contribute to Autism—New Study Dismantles Decades of Misleading Claims

MJ Banias·November 14, 2025

A comprehensive analysis has found no scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis that the gut microbiome causally contributes to autism.

Bioengineering ‘Hack’ Allows Scientists to Recreate Octopus Camouflage Pigment Using Bacteria

Austin Burgess·November 6, 2025

Scientists at UC San Diego have successfully used bacteria to reproduce a unique pigment that allows octopuses to blend in with their surroundings.

Flatworm Stem Cell Discovery Could Soon Rewrite the Rules of Regeneration Science

Austin Burgess·November 5, 2025

Scientists have long been intrigued by the ability of flatworms to regenerate complete bodies from small fragments of tissue. The underlying mechanisms behind this process have remained relatively unclear until recently.

Colossal Biosciences Advances Its De-Extinction Efforts with Acquisition of Cloning Company Viagen

Ryan Whalen·November 4, 2025

Colossal Biosciences has expanded its efforts to save animals currently on the brink with its acquisition of the cloning company Viagen.

Ancient DNA Reveals the Secret Killers That Wiped Out Napoleon’s Army in 1812

Tim McMillan·October 25, 2025

Ancient DNA reveals Napoleon’s army was decimated by hidden fevers, not typhus, during the disastrous 1812 Russian invasion.

Study Reveals Lead Exposure May Have Shaped Ancient Human Brains, Driving the Struggle Between Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals

Ryan Whalen·October 16, 2025

Research reveals that ancient Homo sapiens and Neanderthals encountered unexpected levels of lead exposure, shaping how our brains evolved.

Million-Year-Old Skull Unearthed in China Challenges Timeline of Human Origins

Austin Burgess·October 1, 2025

Digital reconstructions of a million-year-old skull uncovered in China could potentially rewrite the origin story of early humans.

Strange Blue Bird Spotted in Texas Believed to Be the First Known Hybrid Between Blue and Green Jay Species

Austin Burgess·September 23, 2025

A recent study confirmed the existence of a hybrid bird between the blue jay and green jay species in nature.

Scientists Are Closer to Reviving the Long-Lost Dodo with New Landmark Avian Genetics Breakthrough

Micah Hanks·September 17, 2025

Scientists are one step closer to seeing the return of the long-extinct dodo, with the latest breakthrough by Texas-based Colossal Biosciences.

Culture May Be Replacing DNA as the Driver of Human Evolution, New Theory Suggests

Austin Burgess·September 17, 2025

Scientists are re-examining whether genetic changes remain the primary catalyst of human evolution, or if another factor has become more influential.

Scientists Studying Ancient Mastodon DNA Have Made an Unexpected Discovery About These Ice Age Giants

Austin Burgess·September 16, 2025

New studies of genomes from mastodon fossils suggest these ice age beasts were a more diverse group than previously thought.

Unexpected “Hybrid Ancestry” of This Superfood Staple Reveals Its Secret—and Surprisingly Complex—Genetic History

Micah Hanks·September 4, 2025

Despite being a staple food for millions, the genetic secrets of the sweet potato have remained a mystery to scientists... until now.

DNA from Mysterious Ancient Hominins Made Its Way to America—And It May Have Helped Early Humans Survive

Micah Hanks·August 22, 2025

DNA from ancient Denisovans may have played a significant role in helping humans adapt to new environments, new study reveals.

An Ancient Viral Code in Our DNA Is Still Shaping What It Means to Be Human, Study Reveals

Tim McMillan·July 22, 2025

New study reveals hidden viral DNA in primates plays key role in gene regulation and evolution through ancient regulatory elements.

New DNA Evidence Suggests First Australians May Have Arrived Later Than Previously Thought

Tim McMillan·July 15, 2025

New study uses DNA evidence to challenge claims that humans arrived in Sahul 65,000 years ago, pointing to a later migration instead.

Scientists Map 37,000 Years of Human Infectious Disease in Landmark Effort to “Help Us Prepare For the Future”

Micah Hanks·July 9, 2025

New landmark research has successfully mapped 37,000 years of infectious disease across ancient human populations.

Resurrecting the Moa: A New Deextinction Initiative Blends Māori Wisdom with Cutting-Edge Genomics to Revive a Lost Giant

Micah Hanks·July 8, 2025

A groundbreaking new collaboration is working to resurrect one of New Zealand’s most enigmatic lost species, the South Island Giant Moa.