How did the characteristic pattern of embryonic cell divisions during animal development evolve? Analysis of the multicellular development of an organism related to animals now provides some ...

And there was more at stake than mere science. In 1998 David Chalmers and Christof Koch, a pair of up-and-coming consciousness researchers who are now doyens of the field, made a bet.

A new study suggests the platypus and echidna — the only egg-laying mammals — had a water-dwelling ancestor. The finding could upend what’s known of their evolution.

Some animals are capable of cooperating with members of other species. An interdisciplinary team explores the cognitive underpinnings of such cross-species collaborations, opening up a new ...

Animals dream too—here's what we know. Rats practice running through mazes, cats envision future hunts in their heads—scientists are learning more than ever before about animal dreamers.

Ctenophores are one of, if not the, oldest animals on Earth — quite possibly a sister to all other animals in the tree of life, so “they provide a really unique opportunity to study ...

Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis)The Saola Working Group calls this ungulate native to the mountains of Laos and Vietnam one of the rarest large animals on Earth. Citing habitat loss and poor ...

But for much of the 20th century, many scientists didn't believe animals understood the difference between life and death. "Monkeys and apes do not recognize death, for they react to their ...

When animals are reduced to widgets to maximize quarterly profits, it’s inevitable that there will be mistreatment. A farm in San Diego reportedly disposed of 30,000 live, squirming hens (who ...

A Chinese wildlife photographer shares her thoughts on protecting rare animals through the lens. "Listen, that's a magpie singing." said Xu Keyi, a wildlife photographer who can identify bird ...