10,000 Years of Human Evolution Reveals Natural Selection is Accelerating, Recent Human Genome Study Reveals
The human genome of West Eurasia has been far more affected by natural selection in the last 10,000 years than previously suspected.
Genetics
8,000-Year-Old Discoveries at Turkey’s Enigmatic Çatalhöyük Site Reveal “More than Just Blood Relations” Driving Ancient Kinship
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
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
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
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
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’
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
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
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
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”
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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”
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
A groundbreaking new collaboration is working to resurrect one of New Zealand’s most enigmatic lost species, the South Island Giant Moa.
Researchers Have Cracked the 4,500-Year-Old Genome of a Mummy From Egypt’s First Pyramid Age
An Egyptian genome has finally been unraveled, thanks to a sample from an at least 4,500 year-old mummy dating back to the pyramids.
“Crazy Experiment” Yields Mice With Human Cells in Multiple Organs
Human-mouse chimeras have been created in recent American research, producing mouse intestines, livers, and even brains with human cells.
“It Seems Like Science Fiction”: Researchers Unleash Breakthrough Tracking Technology Using Environmental DNA
Scientists have revealed a novel means of tracking everything from wildlife to the presence of illicit substances using DNA that is readily detectable in the environment.
Scientists Warn of DNA Hacking: New Study Reveals Terrifying Emerging Threats in Genomic Sequencing
DNA hacking is no longer science fiction. A new study reveals major cybersecurity flaws in genetic sequencing technology.
Previously Unknown Ancient Human Lineage Discovered in Libyan Rock Shelter
Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa roughly 50,000 years ago, but scientists have now discovered that some chose to remain behind.
Chew on This: Natural Bean Gum Could Help Stop the Spread of Flu and Herpes Viruses
Researchers created a chewing gum from lalab beans that has antiviral properties to help fight herpes and influenza strains.
The Dire Wolf, an Extinct Canine that Roamed Prehistoric America, Has Been Resurrected
The dire wolf has been resurrected in a remarkable achievement by Texas-based biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences.
Ancient Genetic Discovery Challenges Single-Lineage Theory of Human Origins
New research has shown that modern humans descend from not one but two separate ancient human ancestral lineages.
Secrets of the Caterpillar God: Indigenous Traditions Shaped Cassava’s Genetic Diversity for Millennia, Study Reveals
Researchers found that indigenous farming practices like planting cassava for the caterpillar god helped preserve genetic diversity.
Introducing the ‘Woolly Mouse’: Colossal Biosciences Unveils Its Latest Breakthrough in De-Extinction Technology
Colossal Biosciences has used genetic engineering to produce a cold adapted woolly mouse using woolly mammoth DNA.