News Briefs

Modern humans emerged from a complex 'labyrinth of biology and peoples,' findings suggest

A discovery in green alga Volvox carteri shows how male and female sexes have evolved from a more primitive mating system in a single-celled relative.

A new study shows that some strains of the oceans’ most abundant organism can generate methane as a byproduct of breaking down a compound for its phosphorus

In this fascinating interview, the Huffington Post’s Suzan Mazur talks with NASA Astrobiology Institute Principal Investigator Nigel Goldenfeld.

Scientists discovered that corals can better recover from yearly bouts of heat stress when they keep large energy reserves socked away in their cells.

A new study in quantum biology has revealed a ‘weird’ phenomenon that algae use to survive in low light.

New data from NASA's Cassini mission suggests that the ocean inside Saturn's largest moon, Titan, might be as salty as Earth's Dead Sea.

Paleontologists are currently studying a new specimen of Archaeopteryx, which reveals previously unknown features of the plumage.

The average planetary orbit is ten times as elongated as Earths, a fact that can influence their potential habitability. Dim brown dwarfs may be part of the problem.

An unusual series of recent eruptions has led to the massive burst of solar material from the sun's atmosphere.

Astrobiologists from the United States and Germany have recorded the highest level of UV radiation yet known at the Earth’s surface.

This test was the first of three planned for the LDSD project, developed to evaluate new landing technologies for future Mars missions.

Scientists have identified the origin of dark material scattered over the surface of Vesta in images from NASA’s Dawn mission.

The evolution of the ribosome, a large molecular structure found in the cells of all species, has been revealed in unprecedented detail in a new study.

Is a planetary biosphere necessary for the long-term survival of life?