How organisms colonize new landscapes When life colonizes a new, previously barren landscape, it starts up the process of primary succession. In this process, the first biological organisms—simple ...

A rare chemical indicator suggests sponges may have arrived as the first animals on Earth. A sterol core is primarily composed of four fused carbon rings, along with carbon side chains and other ...

Ancient duplicated genes are giving scientists their first real clues about what life was like before all life on Earth shared a common ancestor.

How did life begin on Earth? While scientists have theories, they don't yet fully understand the precise chemical steps that led to biology, or when the first primitive life forms appeared. Subscribe ...

Scott Saleska receives funding from National Science Foundation, NASA, and U.S. Department of Energy. Ghiwa Makke receives funding from National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy. Chris ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. At a certain point in Earth’s distant past, the planet’s ...

From a distance, Biosphere 2 emerges from the cacti and creosote of the Sonoran desert like a gleaming oasis, a colony of glass and bright white structures. Despite being just outside Tucson, Arizona, ...