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Evolutionary Biology

On the Origin of Cuckolds

Baba Brinkman | Posted 06.17.2013 | Science
Baba Brinkman

Confronted with the hyper-vigilant and often violent jealousy of generations of men protecting their genetic legacy, evolution predicts a psychological arms race between the sexes, producing ever more keen-eyed and suspicious men and ever more creatively deceptive women.

Challenging the Fertile Window

Robert Martin | Posted 06.11.2013 | Science
Robert Martin

While the mechanics of human reproduction have stayed the same in the past 80-plus years, there is no reason why our view of conception should be stuck in the early 20th century.

Has 'Junk DNA' Mystery Finally Been Solved?

Posted 05.13.2013 | Science

By: Tia Ghose, LiveScience Staff Writer Published: 05/12/2013 02:25 PM EDT on LiveScience One person's trash may be another person's treasure, but...

Do Doctors Really Discriminate Against The Overweight?

David Katz, M.D. | Posted 05.03.2013 | Healthy Living
David Katz, M.D.

Obesity bias needs to be fixed. We are most likely to fix it when standing on a solid bedrock of understanding it at its origins. We can then replace the crude and obsolete survival-related imperatives bestowed to us in our genes, with the better angels of our nature.

Web Portals and Mouse Mazes: How Your Brain Sorts the World

Ben Thomas | Posted 04.29.2013 | Science
Ben Thomas

Why are we so good at forming categories? The short answer is, complex categories help us make long-term, large scale predictions about the world.

Primitive Fish Sported Weird Fins, Research Shows

Posted 04.10.2013 | Science

By: Tia Ghose, LiveScience Staff Writer Published: 04/09/2013 07:08 PM EDT on LiveScience A 370-milion-year-old, primitive fish sported a weird pa...

WATCH: Is THIS What Our Prehistoric Ancestors Sounded Like?

The Huffington Post | Macrina Cooper-White | Posted 04.09.2013 | Science

Ever wondered what our prehistoric ancestors sounded like when they "talked" to each other? Scientists say it might have sounded a bit like the gurgli...

Primate Brain Study Sheds Light On Human Smarts

Posted 03.29.2013 | Science

By: Tia Ghose, LiveScience Staff Writer Published: 03/28/2013 09:53 AM EDT on LiveScience Brain organization, not overall size, may be the key ev...

Ancient Fossil Shows Creature Had Modern Teeth

Posted 03.27.2013 | Science

By: Tia Ghose, LiveScience Staff Writer Published: 03/27/2013 06:49 AM EDT on LiveScience Paleontologists in Japan have unearthed the jaw of a pri...

How Do You Explain Evolution to a Ten Year Old?

Quora | Posted 04.09.2013 | Parents
Quora

This question originally appeared on Quora. Answer by Chris Bland, Biomedical Scientist, bird enthusiast In the past I've used the following examp...

Boxing Study Spotlights Evolution Of Human Hand

Posted 12.21.2012 | Science

By: Tia Ghose, LiveScience Staff Writer Published: 12/19/2012 06:51 PM EST on LiveScience Human hands may have evolved their unique shape in order...

Is 'Happily Ever After' A Myth?

www.nytimes.com | Posted 12.04.2012 | Weddings

IN fairy tales, marriages last happily ever after. Science, however, tells us that wedded bliss has but a limited shelf life....

Evolution And The Catholic Church: Still Unresolved?

John Farrell | Posted 01.14.2013 | Religion
John Farrell

The science of evolution poses some thorny problems for Roman Catholic tradition. But a new book gives me hope the topic will be more deeply explored by Catholic theologians (and publishers) in the future.

Hairy Chest Study Spotlights Kind Of Mate Women Prefer

Posted 10.09.2012 | Science

By: Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer Published: 10/09/2012 09:56 AM EDT on LiveScience Humans are not nearly as furry as our closest pr...

The Real Reason Men Love Breasts

Larry Young, Ph.D. | Posted 11.25.2012 | Women
Larry Young, Ph.D.

Why are heterosexual men so fascinated by women's breasts that we sometimes act as if the breasts are the seat of the soul?

How To Stop Fear In Its Tracks

Mary Pritchard | Posted 10.06.2012 | Healthy Living
Mary Pritchard

Fear. Your mortal enemy and career killer. How can one emotion help you fly through one situation like you have wings, yet be your downfall in another situation?

Can You Be Both Selfless AND Selfish?

David Katz, M.D. | Posted 08.19.2012 | Healthy Living
David Katz, M.D.

I was privileged and honored to deliver the keynote address recently at a local high school graduation. My marching orders were to deliver a generally inspiring exhortation on being selfless and giving back in seven minutes or less.

A Black Queen in a Blue Ocean: How Microbes Evolve to Depend on Each Other

Jeff Morris | Posted 07.02.2012 | Science
Jeff Morris

Why was it advantageous for the last common ancestor of all life to sacrifice self-sufficiency -- in other words, why is the world no longer the province of a small number of "jack of all trades" species?

Why Do Some Humans Not Want Children?

Quora | Posted 06.26.2012 | Home
Quora

This question originally appeared on Quora. By Jonathan Brill, VP Sales at Software Start-up I'm going to talk you out of having kids. Before...

What I Think About When I Think About Sex

Rob Brooks | Posted 06.03.2012 | Science
Rob Brooks

It takes something as profound as love to trick us into putting aside our conflicting interests and mistrust long enough to mate, and sometimes even to raise a family together.

How Randy Rodents Lure The Ladies

The Huffington Post | Rebecca Searles | Posted 01.30.2012 | Science

They're no good at poetry. They don't buy flowers. But scientists are reporting that male mice have their own special way of impressing the ladies: ...

Nature's Fashionistas

Posted 06.14.2013 | Arts

When we think of jellyfish, our initial thought may be of their unpleasant sting, but in terms of natural awe, nothing can beat the billowing beauty o...

Evolutionary Biologist Lynn Margulis Dies At 73

AP | Posted 03.26.2012 | Green

AMHERST, Mass. -- Evolutionary biologist, author and National Medal of Science winner Lynn Margulis (MAR'-guh-liss) has died. The University of Massa...

EXHIBITION SPOTLIGHT: Alexis Rockman's Apocalyptic Environmental Fables At The Smithsonian

Posted 05.25.2011 | Arts

WHO: Alexis Rockman WHAT: Alexis Rockman: A Fable for Tomorrow WHEN: November 19, 2010 - May 8, 2011 WHERE: Smithsonian American Art Museum 8th an...

Danger! Empathy and Psychopathy as Competing Value Systems in Politics and Economics

Marcella Mroczkowski | Posted 05.25.2011 | Business
Marcella Mroczkowski

Four to five percent of the population is born without a capacity for empathy. It is a neurological lack. A psychopath may be a genius and become a multimillionaire, but he will never be able to understand empathetic values.