Evolution
Genes don’t always dictate that ‘boys will be boys’
New University of Melbourne evolutionary biology research finds that genes don't always dictate that 'boys will be boys' in the animal world, just like humans.
Stopping the flu before it takes hold
University of Melbourne researchers find a way to prime the innate immune system to potentially head off respiratory infections, like flu, before we get sick.
Darwin was right: Females prefer sex with good listeners
University of Melbourne researchers prove one of Charles Darwin's theories about sexual selection; in moths - larger antennae can better detect female signals.
Forty per cent banana, ninety nine per cent bonobo
Miegunyah Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Professor Bernard Wood, discusses our close cousins, the great apes, and ponders who our ancestors really are.
Lizards keep it local when it comes to colour change
Bearded dragons can adapt to colours in their local environment; University of Melbourne experts say they're not as good at unfamiliar colours, but will try.
Goosebumps can give us more than the shivers
Goosebumps are not just your body's way of reacting to emotion. They could hold the key to stopping skin cancer, treating burns and even curing baldness.
Planting the seeds of sovereignty
Two plants that were brought to Australia more than 100 years ago bred together. But instead of creating a new hybrid, one plant has taken over.
The necessity of kindness
Evolutionary biologist Professor Lee Dugatkin talks to the University of Melbourne's Up Close podcast about altruistic behaviour in insects, animals and beyond.
Some newborns hit the ground running – and why others don’t
Giraffes start running with the herd the same day they are born but humans can take a year or more just to start walking. The answer is economic.
Why don’t humans have tails?
Here's why humans lost their tails in the great evolutionary journey, even though animals have many uses for them, says a University of Melbourne expert