LiveScience Topics: Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin would be 200 on Feb. 12, 2009. Darwin's theory of evolution is one of the best substantiated scientific bodies of thought in human history, yet it has been a flashpoint for public debate from nearly the time it was published under duress in 1859 as "On the Origin of Species." Born in 1809, the "father of evolution" had been working out the theory's details ever since he returned home from the five-year HMS Beagle adventure in 1836. Here we offer news, analysis and images that tell the story of Charles Darwin and explain how the process of evolution works. We also delve into the public controversy that continues today, though the theory is fully accepted by scientists.

Explore Charles Darwin

The Future of Evolution: What Will We Become?

Will we split into two species or grow huge heads?
Humans Still Evolving as Our Brains Shrink

Shrinking brains and lactose intolerance are two signs that human evolution is still at work.
Human Evolution: The Origin of Tool Use

Why did we start using tools? What do other tool users in our family tree say about our early evolution?

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Surprising Sex Behavior Found in Bats

Humans and primates aren't the only ones to experiment with oral sex. Bats do it too.
Top 10 Things that Make Humans Special

What separates humans from other animals? Some of the answers might surprise you.
Klondike Holds Clues to Ancient Environment

Alaska, Siberia and the Canadian Yukon remained ice-free during the ice age and was home to unique organisms.
Top 10 Mysteries of the First Humans

Humans are unique among life on this planet, and much remains a mystery as to how we evolved.
Why Have Sex? To Fend Off Parasites

New research shows one way sexual reproduction is advantageous over asexual reproduction: it protects against parasites
Monkey Drumming Suggests the Origin of Music

Primate communication systems shed light on the origins of language and music.
Origin of Komodo Dragon Revealed

New study suggests that the giant lizards came from the land down under.
Our Ancestor: Not Chimp, Not Human

Earliest hominid remains shed light on human origins.
Four-Winged Dinosaur Discovered in China

A new four-winged dinosaur sheds light on evolution of birds.
Why Fall Colors Are Different in U.S. and Europe

Changes during ice ages might explain fall color differences between European and North American trees.
Wolves Beat Dogs on Logic Test

Wolves do better on some logic tests than dogs, a new study found.
New Understanding of the Heart's Evolution

Now scientists have a better understanding how the complex heart evolved.
Studying the Sex Secrets of a Snail Parasite

Evolutionary biologist studies snails to investigate sexual reproduction in parasites.
Why Did Evolution Produce Depression?

Well, maybe depression's not such a bad thing.
The Appendix: Useful and in Fact Promising

Who knew that the appendix was good for something?
Fire Used to Make Better Tools 75,000 Years Ago

Humans used fire to improve stone tools much earlier than thought, archaeologists found.
Monkeys (and Humans) Prefer Mimics

Capuchin monkeys show affiliation for those who imitate them, similar to humans.
Mammals Beat Reptiles in Battle of Evolution

Study finds mammals, birds, fish are evolution's winners; crocodiles, alligators are losers.
Modern Insanity: What Really Makes Us Crazy

The typical American lifestyle teems with risk factors for mental illness.
Oldest Animal Fossils Found in Lakes, Not Oceans

Fossils discovered in a lake may force scientists to rethink where life began.
Human Stabbed a Neanderthal, Evidence Suggests

Remains of a Neanderthal show evidence he was killed by a modern human.

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LiveScience Topics: Charles Darwin

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