evolution

Gasping when you're surprised is a quirk of evolution.

Gasping is tied to an innate survival mechanism, hardwired into humans through evolution: the fight-or-flight response.

Why do we even have them? Let's get to the root of the issue.

Pucker your mouth when you eat something sour? You're not the only one.

If you can't resist puckering your mouth when you lick a lemon or snack on Sour Patch Kids, you can thank evolution.

Fans of '90s alternative music may recall King Missile's big single, "Detachable Penis." While the song may have been silly, it turns out than in the animal world, the idea isn't all that bizarre—at least not to the sea slug Chromodoris reticulata.

Chimpanzees hang out in Gombe National Park.

Chimpanzees share about 98 percent of their genes with humans, but you wouldn't want to invite this side of the family over for dinner.

What do chipmunks eat? Baby birds, occasionally. Do chipmunks hibernate? Yes, but not like bears do.

An illustration of a woolly mammoth, blissfully unaware of its species impending doom.

How many ice ages have there been so far? The same number of ‘Ice Age’ movies that have been released. (Five.)

Wondering how to stop a baby from crying? Unfortunately, the answer doesn’t involve sinking into your comfiest armchair.

Gene editing techniques like CRISPR are upending thousands of years of wine-making tradition.

Scientists are making ancient French grape vines less susceptible to diseases—and less likely to cause hangovers—through gene editing.

Some wolf puppies will retrieve balls for perfect strangers, suggesting that the species may be genetically predisposed toward the adorable behavior.

The discovery of 10 bird species and subspecies on three remote islands in Indonesia marks the first time in over a century that so many new birds have been found in such a small area.

Does it seem like a surplus of newborn babies pop up in September? Science has a few explanations why.

The 1859 work prompted a new era of thinking about nature and humanity. A first edition will likely wind up in the hands of a collector who has evolved to have very deep pockets.

The black squirrel is an uncommon sight in the squirrel population. Scientists now believe they know why.

The paleo diet recommends eating low-carb foods like our ancient ancestors if we want to reach optimum health. But it turns out that early humans in the Paleolithic era dined on more than just meat.