In the 150 years since Charles Darwin speculated that humans originated in Africa, the number of species in the human family tree has exploded, but so has the level of dispute concerning early human evolution. A new review looks at the major discoveries in hominin origins since Darwin's works and argues that fossil apes can inform us about essential aspects of ape and human evolution, including the nature of our last common ancestor.

The first known visitor from interstellar space, 'Oumuamua, was likely a pancake-shaped chip off a Pluto-like world, researchers say. These findings may shed light on the stuff a new class of planet, an exo-Pluto, is made of, scientists added.

For mouthless, lungless bacteria, breathing is a bit more complicated than it is for humans. We inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide; Geobacter — a ubiquitous, groundwater-dwelling genus of bacteria — swallow up organic waste and "exhale" electrons, generating a tiny electric current in the process.

Bill Gates has a message for those advocating against genetically modified organisms: I'm disappointed.

Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have created a form of nitrogen that’s never been seen before. Nicknamed “black nitrogen,” the new substance is crystalline, occurs in two-dimensional sheets, and could one day be useful in advanced electronics.

The team included researchers from CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the University of Melbourne.

For decades, scientists have been intrigued by tiny viruses whose genetic material can be read both forward and backward. New research begins to explain this puzzling property.

Humanity's homeland found in ancient Botswana

"Your memory is really your identity. Your own history, your own desires, your own fears.”

Scientists had suspected that Uranus had clouds of hydrogen sulfide, a compound that smells like rotten eggs and farts. But they couldn't be certain until now.

The front lines of climate change run through the rapidly warming Arctic. The changes taking place on this faraway, frozen island will be felt much closer to home, wherever you live. From the top of the world, meet the scientists looking for clues of what to expect from a warming world.

A remote spruce planted on a Southern Ocean island holds a defining record of humans, scientists argue.

Breaking Voyager 1’s record

The prehistoric avians weren't able to fly, but they were able to kill.

A study of hunter-gatherers on the Malay Peninsula suggests that culture plays a role in how we describe the odors all around us.

Winter rain makes it more difficult for the animals to feed, particularly pregnant females, researchers find.

Scientists identified bacteria that caused a mass die-off of the endangered antelopes in Kazakhstan in 2015. But the mechanism that made the bacteria so deadly is not understood.

Nine caribou on an island in Lake Superior were helicoptered to safety in a bid to save a once thriving herd from dying out.

If you’ve ever lost your car in the parking lot, this bird will put you to shame.

Birds show remarkable levels of intelligence, something that may have given them the edge following the K-T extinction event