Inquirer Columnist - Faye Flam

Planet of the Apes: Viruses use kinship of humans and apes

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:27:08 GMT

While it may be that some Americans doubt we're related to chimps and other primates, viruses recognize the similarities in our cells.

Planet of the Apes: Insects illustrate the value of errors - typos - in DNA

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:01:00 GMT

One of the more difficult aspects of evolution for some people to swallow is the notion that random copying errors in DNA can add up to anything useful.

Planet of the Apes: A newer, branched picture of human roots in Africa

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 07:01:00 GMT

Once DNA evidence made clear that all humanity came from Africa, researchers have been scouring that vast continent in search of a fuller story of our origins. Where in Africa was the cradle of humanity? And how are modern people related to the common ancestor that all humanity shares?

Planet of the Apes: Of mama's-boy whales and menopause

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:01:00 GMT

Scientists have been hard-pressed to explain why menopause happens so early in humans - there's no obvious evolutionary advantage to having your reproductive system shut down decades before the rest of your body.

Planet of the Apes: What is that big hunk of 'junk' DNA up to ?

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 07:01:00 GMT

Last week, in response to a media blitz promoting a $288 million DNA project called ENCODE, headlines announced that most of our DNA formerly known as "junk" was actually useful.

Planet of the Apes: Shake, Rover!

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 10:15:02 GMT

Planet of the Apes: When a wet dog shakes himself dry, he does something amazing. He hits just the right rhythm to maximize the drying effect with minimal effort.

Planet of the Apes: The human race, all alone in our genus

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:01:00 GMT

Are we alone? It's a question that drives our forays into space, robotic adventures on Mars, and the searches that have revealed thousands of planets orbiting distant suns.

Planet of the Apes: Is low self-esteem linked to women who sleep around?

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:09:20 GMT

Awhile back, a reader wanted me to investigate whether there was an evolutionary explanation for women sleeping around. He didn't come at the question directly, but asked me to look at female low self-esteem and evolution. I pressed on how such low self-esteem was manifested, and that's when the sex question came out. He said he was worried about his daughters.

Planet of the Apes: Curiosity and life's definition

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 07:01:00 GMT

After a triumphant landing, the Curiosity rover is ready to search Mars for signs of past life or suitability for life. Several readers have raised concerns that NASA scientists might fail to recognize life if it isn't based on carbon or is otherwise radically different from our kind of life.

Planet of the Apes: Alarming evolution of nastier parasites in vaccine study

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:54:31 GMT

When Pennsylvania State University biologist Andrew Read injected mice with a component of several promising malaria vaccines, he got a disquieting result: The malaria parasites spread through the immunized mice and evolved to become more virulent.