New analysis of 407-million-year-old Prototaxites fossils from Scotland's Rhynie chert suggests they may belong to an entirely extinct eukaryotic lineage, unlike any known fungi. The discovery ...

A strange set of ancient fossils is forcing scientists to rethink one of paleontology’s most stubborn assumptions: that ...

During the development of marine organisms—from fertilization through to juvenile stages—it is often observed that the eggs ...

A new technique shows DNA binding domains are not central to transcription factor targeting in human cells, unlike in ...

Hidden within ancient microbial structures, scientists have uncovered a partnership that may mirror one of life’s most ...

Scientists have discovered a hidden partnership between ancient microbes that may explain how complex life first evolved on Earth.

Tom has a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Oxford and his interests range from immunology and microscopy to the philosophy of science.View full profile Tom has a master’s degree ...

Breathe easy. It appears our microbial ancestors used oxygen, too. In December 2025, Brett Baker led a research cruise to collect microbial genomes off the coast of Uruguay. In this photo, Tyler Smith ...

In many submerged regions, murky mud shelters strange life-forms that seem to be the key to one of the biggest mysteries of life on Earth. These creatures belong to a domain of life called the archaea ...

Cells are the basic building blocks of life—the smallest units that can do all the jobs a living thing needs. Most cells fit into two groups: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The most significant ...

In his laboratory at the University of Poitiers in France, Abderrazak El Albani contemplates the rock glittering in his hands. To the untrained eye, the specimen resembles a piece of golden tortellini ...

From the mighty blue whale to the humble baker’s yeast, eukaryotes encompass an incredibly varied group of 1.67 million named species. This includes all animals, plants, fungi, and a wide range of ...