Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection changed science forever, demonstrating that organisms develop over time in response to their environment, with the "fittest" species surviving. Live Science celebrates this groundbreaking discovery and everything scientists have learned since. From explaining human evolution and how long it takes new species to evolve, to the "missing link" in T. rex evolution and other weird animals that evolution came up with, our expert writers and editors ensure you always have amazing news, features and articles about evolution to enjoy.
And if you think you're already an expert at everything there is to know about evolution, you can test your knowledge with our evolution quiz and Charles Darwin quiz.
Discover more about evolution
—Evolution: Facts about the processes that shape the diversity of life on Earth
—100 years after death, evolution's other discoverer gains recognition
Latest about Evolution
Evolution quiz: Can you naturally select the correct answers?
How much do you know about evolution? Take this quiz to find out.
Raindrops may have helped kick-start life on the planet
The earliest cells likely didn’t have membranes to separate and protect their components and chemistry away from a harsh surrounding environment. But they may have made do with rain.
Which animals are evolving fastest?
The "fastest evolving vertebrate" title is hotly contested, but here are a few contenders.
'I have never written of a stranger organ': The rise of the placenta and how it helped make us human
"Human evolution has occurred both due to, and in spite of, the placenta. Every pregnancy, unthinkingly, must navigate a careful path through it. Every menstruation is testament to it. It is partly why menopause exists, to give individuals an escape from the energetic costs associated with its imposition."
Ancient relative of 'living fossil' fish reveals that geological activity supercharges evolution
The ancient coelacanth, which has existed for some 419 million years, never stopped evolving despite its reputation as a "living fossil." A new discovery reveals that it evolved faster when plate tectonics were most active.
How fast does evolution happen?
Measuring the pace of evolution is tricky, but some species can evolve as quickly as a few generations.
Defense system common to all life came from 'Asgard'
Defense systems found in all complex life, including the human body, came from primeval microbes known as 'Asgards.'
Evolution: Facts about the processes that shape the diversity of life on Earth
Discover interesting facts about how evolution works, the different patterns that can emerge from evolution, how quickly organisms can evolve, and whether evolution is a random or ordered process
