Extinct ‘Denisovan’ people may have lived on Earth’s highest plateau
The Tibetan Plateau is a tough environment so we thought humans arrived only about 12,000 years ago, but it seems someone was there 40,000 to 30,000 years ago
Stone tools hint that our first human ancestors lived all over Africa
We thought the first Homo species evolved in East Africa 2.8 million years ago, but stone tools from Algeria suggest our origins may have spanned the continent
Female flies evolved serrated genitals that get in the way during sex
Spotted-wing drosophila have evolved a special organ for laying their eggs in fruit, but it makes it difficult for males to hold on when they mate
Multiple sclerosis drug is first to dramatically cut brain shrinkage
An experimental treatment can nearly halve the loss of brain tissue in people who have the worst forms of multiple sclerosis, for which there are few treatments
Lobster krill fight off big penguins with their tiny pincers
Penguin-mounted cameras show that 7-centimetre-long crustaceans can sometimes fend off attacks from predators 10 times as large
Bacteria can be used to turn type A blood into universal type O
A new family of enzymes found in the human gut has been used to quickly turn type A blood into type O - which can be used for transfusions in anyone
Cycling race footage highlights climate change effects on trees
Historical footage of the Tour of Flanders shows that trees have been flowering earlier since the 1980s
How old could humans get? We probably haven’t hit the limit yet
The idea that we have reached the maximum possible human lifespan is highly divisive. New evidence adds fuel to a fiery debate, says Tom Kirkwood
Cocaine in the water makes eels hyperactive and damages muscles
There are low levels of cocaine and other drugs in many rivers, and lab studies suggest that European eels are suffering muscle damage as a result
Male peacocks can make females’ heads vibrate at a distance
Peahens have fan-shaped crests on their heads, and it seems males can make these crests resonate by making a specific noise with their tails