The sexy sabercat: how the sabertooth got its teeth
Many sabertooths have stalked this world. The first sabertoothed mammals appeared over 50 million years ago. The last sabercats, such as Smilodon and Homotherium, went extinct only 10.0..
Thoughtomics
Exploring evolution through genes, computers and history
Evolution
How genetic plunder transformed a microbe into a pink, salt-loving scavenger
Most cells would shrivel to death in a salt lake. But not the Halobacteria . These microbes thrive in brine, painting waters a gentle pink or crimson red wherever they bloom.
Evolution
Animal vision evolved 700 million years ago
Gaze deep into any animal eye and you will find opsin, the protein through which we see the world. Every ray of light that you perceive was caught by an opsin first.
Evolution
Book review: Survival of the Beautiful
Sometimes all you have to do to make me buy your book, is think of a good title. Survival of the Beautiful by David Rothenberg definitely did the trick.
The grandmother and her genes: a grandson’s perspective
Somewhere deep in my grandmother’s veins, a blood clot breaks free. Her blood carries the clot past her heart, to her lungs, where it becomes stuck in a pulmonary artery.
Evolution
The floor is yours!
Today, the Scientific American blogging network celebrates its very first birthday. It has been a tremendous ride so far, and I would really like to thank you for reading along so far, but there's one little question I wanted to get out of the way first: Who are you?...
Terrestrial hermit crabs only smell their favourite snacks when water is around
The Caribbean hermit crabs in Anna-Sara Krång’s laboratory are no picky eaters. They are eager to gobble down any fruit, nuts, fish or coconut flakes that comes their way.
Evolution
Ancient fish had the backbone of a landlubber
Evolution has a knack for confronting us with strange and unexpected questions. One of them echoed through the halls of the Collections Centre of the National Museum of Scotland, not too long ago: "Why does a fish need a sacrum!?"Lauren Sallan was peering through her microscope, studying a fossil specimen of Tarrasius , when she noticed something odd...
Evolution
Livestock bacteria are as old as the livestock they kill
Animals were wilder then. Horns were longer, temperaments fiercer. These wild things had forever been free when humans took control of their flocks and herds, 10.000 years ago.
Evolution
A Spoonful of Molybdenum, some Ulysses and the Origin of Life
"Have you ever read Ulysses?"The question catches me off guard. I am interviewing Michael Russell, a geochemist working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Blog Index
@ScientificAmerican
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Anthropology in Practice
Exploring the human condition.
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Beautiful Minds
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Budding Scientist
Everything you always wanted to know about raising science-literate kids
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Cross-Check
Critical views of science in the news
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Dark Star Diaries
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Dog Spies
Explore the science behind the dog in your bed
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Extinction Countdown
News and research about endangered species from around the world
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The Science Behind Extreme Weather
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Climate science in a changing world
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Illusions, Delusions, and Everyday Deceptions
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Roots of Unity
Mathematics: learning it, doing it, celebrating it.
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Adventures in the good science of rock-breaking.
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STAFFIllustrating science since 1845
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Talking back
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The Artful Amoeba
A Blog About the Weird Wonderfulness of Life on Earth
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Exploring and celebrating diversity in science.
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