Latest Articles
Simple Bacteria Offer Clues to the Origins of Photosynthesis
Studies of the energy-harvesting proteins in primitive cells suggest that key features of photosynthesis might have evolved a billion years earlier than scientists thought.
Supercool Protein Imaging Gets the Nobel Prize
This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to researchers who made it possible to see proteins and other biomolecules at an atomic level of detail.
Nobel Prize Awarded for Biological Clock Discoveries
Three U.S. biologists share the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their research into the molecular mechanism that drives circadian rhythm.
Genetics Spills Secrets From Neanderthals’ Lost History
How many Neanderthals were there? Archaeology and genetics have given very different answers. A new study reconciles them and reveals the lost history of these ancient people — including an early brush with extinction.
Seeing Emergent Physics Behind Evolution
Nigel Goldenfeld applies the physics of condensed matter to understand how evolution sprinted for the earliest life — and then slowed down.
The Oldest Mini-Brains Have Lifelike Young Cells
“Organoid” brain tissue models grown in a lab for two years can help scientists study a critical period of development just before and after birth.
Interspecies Hybrids Play a Vital Role in Evolution
Hybrids, once treated as biological misfits, play a vital role in the evolution of many animal species. Now conservationists are trying to reconcile that truth with policies.
Beating the Odds for Lucky Mutations
If DNA repair makes useful mutations more likely, it could accelerate cells’ adaptations to harsh environments.
The Illuminating Geometry of Viruses
Mathematical insights into how RNA helps viruses pull together their protein shells could guide future studies of viral behavior and function.