Some of the most fundamental questions in evolution remain unanswered, such as when and how extremely diverse groups of animals – for example reptiles – first evolved. For 75 years, adaptive radiations – the relatively fast evolution of many species from a single common ancestor – have been considered as the major cause of biological diversity, including the origins of major body plans (structural and developmental characteristics that identify a group of animals) and new lineages. However, past research examining these rapid rates of evolution was largely constrained by the methods...

Javier Ortega-Hernández and Yu Liu, Professor of Paleobiology, Yunnan University, China have collaborated for years in the study of Chengjiang arthropods and their evolutionary significance. Their latest paper in Current Biology shows with unprecedented clarity the head morphology of the species Leanchoilia illecebrosa - a member of...

Using microCT Javier Ortega-Hernández and Yu Liu, Professor of Paleobiology, Yunnan University, China discovered Xiaocaris luoi, a new species of fuxianhuiid, an important group of early branching arthropods that are central to discussions concerning the early evolution of this phylum. Xiaocaris luoi, represents the smallest known fuxianhuiid, its trunk legs bore strong spines...

Congratulations to Peter Girguis, recipient of the 2020 Petra Shattuck Excellence in Teaching Award!

Established by the Harvard Extension School in memory of Petra T. Shattuck, a distinguished and dedicated Harvard Extension teacher who died in 1988, these prizes are presented annually to honor outstanding teaching.