Evolution
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Evolution is among the most substantiated concepts in science and is the unifying theory of biological science. Charles Darwin co-originated, with Alfred Russel Wallace, the theory of evolution by natural selection. His masterwork, the 1859 "Origin of Species," offered ample evidence for evolution having occurred, as well as the first strong explanation for its mechanism, natural selection. Modern evolutionary theory incorporates these concepts: species change over time; genetic mutations are responsible for the changes; individuals with beneficial genetic mutations will survive preferentially compared with their competitors, in a process known as natural selection; those successful individuals' more numerous offspring will spread the beneficial genetic constructs throughout the population; when enough genetic changes reproductively isolate a population, that population has become a new species. Here you'll find news and information on evolution and the battle with proponents of so-called creation science.
Latest about Evolution
![Three researchers walk out onto the salty crust left behind after water has evaporated at Last Chance Lake in September 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xiCcFhrjHisyCSfwAvNa3o-320-80.jpg)
Last Chance Lake: The unusual 'soda lake' with conditions that may have given rise to life on Earth
By Sascha Pare published
Scientists consider Last Chance Lake to be an analog for lakes that may have existed on Earth 4 billion years ago and contained the ingredients for early life on our planet.
![A rendering of Lucy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2StKjLopujbANRPZgrWHyP-320-80.jpg)
Human ancestor 'Lucy' was hairless, new research suggests. Here's why that matters.
By Stacy Keltner published
Lucy is popularly depicted as being hairy, but new evidence suggests she wasn't. The discovery prompts new questions about the history of nudity.
![Portrait of a male common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jT8edp9rn9dvhohqriw45F-320-80.jpg)
Y chromosome is evolving faster than the X, primate study reveals
By Nicola Williams published
The male Y chromosome in humans is evolving faster than the X. Scientists have now discovered the same trend in six species of primate.
![Girl watching an aquarium.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CqU3LdbZzhTv47jGZh4MbQ-320-80.jpg)
Why don't humans have gills?
By Marlowe Starling published
Our distant fish ancestors had gills, so why don't humans?
![Pipette adding a sample to a petri dish with a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) profile in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wMhR2pTcPfhE92dCoPj7pS-320-80.jpg)
Genomes of 51 animal species mapped in record time, creating 'evolutionary time machine'
By Kiley Price published
Using a new technique, scientists created genetic blueprints for kangaroos, penguins, sharks and more.
![A young girl sitting on a bed smells her own foot.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PPEFxaV62QCqaUtxVenAVf-320-80.jpg)
Why can't we smell ourselves as well as we smell others?
By Amanda Heidt published
It isn't true that we can't smell ourselves, although we do become habituated to our own scent.
![Two girls cartwheeling in the grass](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xys2PvhJD3ZYEuM8kmFfUG-320-80.jpg)
Are legs more important than arms?
By Kiley Price published
Whether arms or legs are more important depends on the species and the environment.
![A satellite image of Indonesia with a dotted red line running through the middle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tHbxhRonNyK7XkMQX9Wyh5-320-80.jpg)
Invisible barrier that runs through Indonesia finally explained by scientists
By Harry Baker published
Researchers now understand why there is an uneven distribution of animal species on either side of the mysterious boundary, known as the Wallace Line.
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