Evolution
Fungi appeared up to 1.4 billion years ago, study reveals
An international team of scientists has determined that fungi originated between 900 million and 1.4 billion years ago, predating plants and animals by hundreds of millions of years. This discovery, based on advanced molecular dating and gene transfer analysis, suggests fungi were key pioneers in Earth's early terrestrial ecosystems. The findings were published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
New Mongolian dinosaur bridges gap to tyrannosaurs
Paleontologists have discovered Khankhuuluu, a new species of tyrannosauroid dinosaur from Mongolia that represents a key transitional form in the evolution of Tyrannosaurus rex. This medium-sized predator, weighing about 750 kilograms, lived 86 million years ago and likely migrated from Asia to North America, where larger tyrannosaurs evolved. The find, detailed in a recent Nature study, highlights the dinosaur's agile hunting style and shared traits with later giants.
Scientists uncover universal thermal performance curve for all life
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered a universal thermal performance curve that governs how every living organism responds to temperature changes. This pattern, applicable from bacteria to fish, shows performance peaks at an optimal temperature before sharply declining, highlighting limits to adaptation in a warming world. The findings, published in PNAS, suggest evolution cannot escape this fundamental rule.
Evolution may explain why women outlive men
A new study suggests that the evolution of menopause plays a key role in women's longer lifespans compared to men. Researchers propose that post-reproductive life in women allows investment in grandchildren, contrasting with men's continued reproduction. This theory draws on data from hunter-gatherer societies and modern populations.