evolutionary biology

New evidence from Alaska’s Prince Creek Formation indicates that birds were nesting in the Arctic approximately 73 million years ago, more than 25 million years earlier than previously documented. Paleontologists have unearthed over 50 bird fossils, some no larger than grains of rice, shedding light on the diversity and adaptability of Late Cretaceous avifauna in high-latitude ecosystems.

In an astonishing turn of events, construction work on a new artificial island off the coast of Java, Indonesia, has dredged up a treasure trove of ancient fossils—more than 6,700 specimens in total—from a sunken landscape once known as Sundaland. Among the abundant fish, reptile, and mammal remains, two hominin skull fragments have emerged as the first evidence of Homo erectus beyond Java, reshaping our understanding of early human dispersal in Southeast Asia.

The spiny echidna—one of Australia’s most unique mammals—has long intrigued biologists with its peculiar reproductive strategy. Unlike marsupials such as kangaroos that bear live young into permanent pouches, echidnas lay a single leathery egg and then form a temporary “pseudo-pouch” to carry and nourish the hatching juvenile, known as a puggle. Now, researchers from the University of Adelaide have delved into this pseudo-pouch environment for the first time, revealing how its microbial community shifts dramatically during lactation to protect the vulnerable newborn.

In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Science, researchers from the HUN-REN Center of Ecological Research (HUN-REN CER) in Hungary have joined an international team to unravel a remarkable mystery about the origins of bacterial life on Earth. Their findings suggest that some forms of bacteria developed the ability to utilize oxygen nearly a billion years before the Earth’s atmosphere became rich in it, fundamentally altering long-held beliefs about microbial evolution and the Great Oxidation Event.

In a landmark achievement that significantly enhances our understanding of primate biology and evolution, an international team of scientists has published the first-ever complete genome sequences for six species of great apes. This unprecedented effort was led by researchers at Pennsylvania State University, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), and the University of Washington. The findings, released today (April 9) in the journal Nature, offer deeper insights into the genetic architecture of our closest relatives — and into our own species.

Cuttlefish have long captivated scientists and nature lovers alike with their ability to blend into their surroundings. Now, researchers at the University of Bristol have uncovered a previously unknown camouflage technique that cuttlefish use to stealthily approach their prey. In a study published in Science Advances titled “Stealth and deception: adaptive motion camouflage in hunting broadclub cuttlefish,” the team reveals how these cephalopods employ a dynamic skin display to mask their movements during hunting.

The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) is one of the longest-living vertebrates on Earth, with estimates suggesting a lifespan of over 500 years. A groundbreaking new study has provided key insights into the genetic factors behind this remarkable longevity, shedding light on potential mechanisms that may one day inform human aging research.

A groundbreaking study of ancient sedimentary DNA (sedaDNA) has provided a 6,000-year glimpse into the lives of Adélie penguin colonies along Antarctica’s Ross Sea coast. The research, published in Nature Communications, offers new insights into how these birds—and the ecosystems they belong to—have responded to environmental changes over millennia.