A genomic atlas of Nematostella vectensis reveals how primitive animals created multiple cell types millions of years ago, ...

A new study posits that same-sex sexual behavior developed to help primates in complex social groups ease tension, reduce ...

The conservation of genome regulatory elements over long periods of evolution is not limited to vertebrates, as previously ...

With copper-blue blood prized by modern medicine and a body plan older than dinosaurs, the horseshoe crab reveals how ancient ...

The specimen was found at Mazon Creek fossil beds, a site known for its beautifully preserved animals and plants.

Evolution is a continuous, powerful force shaping the natural world around us. As environmental pressures intensify, future animal evolution is likely to produce fascinating and sometimes bizarre new ...

A microorganism whose evolutionary roots can be traced to the era of the first multicellular animals may provide a glimpse of how single-celled organisms made a critical evolutionary leap. In ...

Sponges are among Earth's most ancient animals, but exactly when they evolved has long puzzled scientists. Genetic ...

The origins of consciousness date back about 540 million years ago, when animal bodies became more complex. Feelings like pleasure and pain act as a "common currency" for decision-making, as we see in ...