Small prey animals are generally much slower than the predators attacking them, but have a distinct advantage that can help them escape: maneuverability. When a prey observes a predator approaching, the change in the predator's visual profile gives it a good idea of the size... click to read more

Dinosaurs have fascinated society for ages, or at least since the first specimens were described by Sir Richard Owen in the 19th century. These extinct ‘terrible reptiles’ supported the evolving world proposed by Darwin, exemplified by the discovery of a fossil in Germany, only two... click to read more

By accessing the genomes of past populations, researchers have revealed how migrations have been at the origin of major cultural changes for our societies. Some of them have shaped Europe's modern genetic heritage. In France, this type of study had only been carried out on... click to read more

Around 350 B.C., the Greek philosopher Aristotle asserted that our hand is the "tool of tools." Our hands and fingers help us to work, to create, to communicate. But when did these anatomical structures appear in our distant ancestors? For the past 530 million years... click to read more

There are more than 400,000 known beetle species - and perhaps one million more species left to discover. This makes beetles one of the most diverse groups of animals on Earth. However, the causes for their extraordinary diversity are widely debated. Many claim that herbivory... click to read more