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 Many Mysteries of Neanderthals

Scientists are still trying to figure out why we succeeded while our closest human relatives didn't.
Human Evolution: Where We Came From

A chronology of hominids tells the story of some of the most significant ancestors we know about and how they're all linked by evolution.
POLL: Your View of Human Evolution

The theory is based on solid evidence from several fields and different lines of research, but it remains highly controversial.

More Charles Darwin News and Information

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.
Neanderthals Were Few and Poised for Extinction

Neanderthals were sparse.
Why Are Human Brains So Big?

Social competition may be the main reason human brains are so big, researchers find.
How Global Catastrophe Could Make Us Smarter

A supervolcano would challenge civilization. But it could make us smarter.
First Land Creatures Had Wild Appearances

The first fish-like animals to squirm out of the sea and onto land were pretty wild looking, new research concludes.

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LiveScience Topics: Charles Darwin

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