The humble rodent “thumb” may not seem like an obvious window into evolution, but its keratinized tip – the unguis (hoof, claw, or nail) – turns out to reveal striking insights into rodent history and ...

Synaptic plasticity allows brains to learn, adapt, and rewire. It’s foundational to memory, problem-solving, and complex ...

Researchers (left to right) Gordon Shepherd, Anderson Feijó, Lauren Johnson, and Rafaela Missagia, working in the Field Museum’s mammal collections. Picture a squirrel eating an acorn. It’s holding ...

Gut Microbes may have helped fuel the evolution of large human brains, shaping brain metabolism and gene activity, new ...

The legions of squirrels breaking into backyard bird feeders benefit from a surprising trait developed over millions of years—tiny hands with four claws and a human-looking thumbnail. This combination ...

Subterranean rodents occupy an exceptional ecological niche characterised by elaborate burrow systems and unique physiological adaptations. Their underground habitat, with its stable but challenging ...

Scientists have long suspected that the trillions of microbes in our intestines do more than digest lunch, but new work goes ...