Did life evolve more than once? Researchers are closing in on an answer

Has all of life on Earth evolved only once, or are different living beings cut from different cloths? 

Could invisible aliens really exist among us? An astrobiologist explains

A popular suggestion for an alternative biochemistry is one based on silicon rather than carbon

Rare microbial predators with voracious appetite form a new branch in ‘tree of life’: Study

Learning more about these undiscovered branches of life can help shed more light on the foundations of the living world and how evolution works

Life: modern physics can’t explain it – but our new theory, which says time is fundamental, might

This is perhaps the most radical departure for physics of life from standard physics, but it may be the critical insight needed to explain what …

New AI tool may help discover extraterrestrial life, solve long-standing debates on Earth

It can tell difference between molecules that originate from life and those that come from non-living sources with 90% accuracy

WHO, ILO lay down guidelines to tackle stress in workplaces

Depression and anxiety are thought to account for 12 billion lost workdays annually, costing the world economy close to $1 trillion

The real Johannesburg: 6 powerful photos from a gritty new book on the city

The book is an ethnographic portrait of one of Africa’s most vibrant and intriguing cities

Why focusing on COVID-19 deaths undercounts health harms of pandemic: Study on India & other countries

Broader effects like mental health deterioration due to the anxiety of getting infected or the isolation of lockdowns have received less research …

Evolution: why it seems to have a direction and what to expect next

A dominant, intelligent species like humans will always be bad news for many of the other species on the planets where they evolve

Oceans Great Dying 2.0: Earth’s waters in a state of flux

In the past three decades, the top 2,000 metres of the oceans have warmed up due to global warming

Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims have lower life expectancy than higher-caste Hindus, study reveals

Difference among Dalits, Adivasis and higher-caste Hindus is comparable to the Black-White gap in the US

Good while it lasted - I: 6th mass extinction underway, courtesy humans

Earth is losing species at an unprecedented rate; This marks the beginning of the Anthropocene Epoch, a self-aggrandising nomenclature that …

‘More women reach extreme ages than men’

Down To Earth speaks to Michael Pearce from the University of Washington in the United States about the possibility that the world record for …

We sequenced the oldest ever DNA, from million-year-old mammoths

About a million years ago, there was a known species of mammoth inhabiting Siberia. This was thought to be the ancestor of later species, but was it?

Four African countries back agreement against illegal, unregulated fishing

100 countries have signed the Agreement on Port State Measures — the first internationally binding agreement in the fight against illegal, …

Climate change is already disrupting US forests and coasts. Here’s what we’re seeing at 5 long-term research sites

A series of five papers presents more than 25 case studies, providing a unique perspective on what’s likely ahead as the planet continues …

Stormwater harvesting in parks and open spaces: Managing Delhi’s water woes

Water-sensitive urban design and planning approach, which mimics the natural water cycle, can help fix water systems in the city

Venus might have microbial life in its atmosphere, study shows

Phosphine gas, made up of hydrogen and phosphorus, hass been found in the planet’s clouds, a marker for the existence of microbes that can …

Earth Day@50: NatGeo highlights evolution of Human-Nature relationship

National Geographic brings together its family of explorers and experts to highlight the fragile human-nature relationship

Women have always trailed men in research output: How COVID made the situation worse

A survey of public varsities in South Africa showed female academics faced a massive burden of caring for dependants during the pandemic 

Climate change and us: What really shaped human evolution last 2 million years

Climatic shifts determined where food was available, driving migration and adaptations, according to the study

Air Pollution: Delhi, Kolkata stand to lose 9 years of life expectancy if 2019 pollution levels persist

India will have gained 5.9 years in life expectancy if the WHO guidelines on air pollution control are followed

Bringing Mars rocks back to Earth – Perseverance Rover lands on Feb. 18, a lead scientist explains the tech and goals

Scientists are looking for evidence of past life, either direct chemical or organic signs in the composition and the chemistry of rocks, or …

Venus: could it really harbour life? New study springs a surprise

It may be that astrobiologists searching for life beyond Earth now have an additional atmospheric biosignature about which to argue

Thick ones, pointy ones – how albatross beaks evolved to match their prey

Beak size, shape varied between albatross species, making it a useful tool for identifying species that otherwise look similar