Evolution

Yellow baya bird weaving its nest in a green forest.

Sciences & Technology

Birds are the ultimate architects, designing their nests for every climate

Whether it’s a dome, cup or pendant, new research shows bird nest designs match specific climatic conditions, giving hope that some can adjust nesting behaviours for changing weather conditions

Insects have more complex immune systems than we thought thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

Insects have more complex immune systems than we thought

Ants, beetles, and all other invertebrates have complex immune systems which can protect their offspring

The fly DNA fighting killer bacteria thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

The fly DNA fighting killer bacteria

The genome of an Australian fly has won an evolutionary “arms race” against a killer bacteria by evolving to co-exist with it

Why giraffes have spots thumbnail image

Health & Medicine

Why giraffes have spots

A new study provides the first anatomical proof of why giraffes have spots – and how they relate to plastic surgery

The Australian grasshopper that’s given up sex thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

The Australian grasshopper that’s given up sex

A unique ‘matchstick’ grasshopper that’s evolved into an all-female species that doesn’t reproduce through sex gives us fascinating insights into evolution

Science can help dogs enjoy their best life thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

Science can help dogs enjoy their best life

A new TV series explores the journey of dogs, but science is giving us new insights into how we can help our canine friends thrive

Human-driven evolution threatens fish stocks thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

Human-driven evolution threatens fish stocks

Warming oceans and overfishing is causing species to evolve in ways that threaten the sustainability of commercial fisheries

Solving the mystery of the four-headed echidna penis thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

Solving the mystery of the four-headed echidna penis

Scientists have for the first time detailed the anatomy and workings of the short-beaked echidna penis, demonstrating its innovative evolution

Tasmanian tigers start to look like dogs in the pouch thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

Tasmanian tigers start to look like dogs in the pouch

The Tasmanian tiger and wolf evolved similar genetic blueprints and lifestyle strategies, generating similar skull shapes even at the puppy stage, finds a new study

Secrets of the basket-web spider’s silk thumbnail image

Sciences & Technology

Secrets of the basket-web spider’s silk

The only spider known to weave a container to catch prey, researchers now have the first insights into the evolution and structure of the basket-web spider’s rare silk

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