Michael Marshall

The coronavirus has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, but vaccines help to keep mothers and babies safe

Although they are more commonly associated with causing disease and, at times, devastating pandemics, viruses have also played an important role in human evolution – and without them you wouldn't be here at all

We used to think "synanthropic" animals like raccoons, foxes and ravens started living alongside people around the time of the agricultural revolution, about 10,000 years ago. But it could have been much earlier.

Most plants split water molecules to generate energy, and now we have a clearer picture of exactly how they do it

This Annual Report outlines the activities and progress of the National Society Investment Alliance (NSIA) in 2022

To explain how life on Earth began, the big challenge is to identify the molecules and processes that enable non-living chemical systems to become more complex

Domestic cats are a paradox, argues biologist Jonathan B. Losos in a book that delves into their origins and the emerging science of feline behaviour

The coronavirus commonly causes gastrointestinal symptoms, but whether this is due to inflammation, disruption to our microbiome or the virus affecting the permeability of our gut wall is unclear

The story of evolution spans over 3 billion years and shows how microscopic single-celled organisms transformed Earth and gave rise to complex organisms like animals

I went on Vox's podcast Unexplainable to discuss research into the origins of life

Some of the most important inventions – wheels, nets and the written word – have creators lost to time, even though their impact shaped the world we live in

What makes a great new trait evolve and then stay dormant for years? Andreas Wagner's new book explores the innovations of nature – and human culture

TV dramas use tidy, cleaned-up bones to crack crimes in minutes, but an unvarnished account by forensic anthropologist Alexa Hagerty shows the slow horror of exhuming people killed by repressive regimes

It has long been unclear how ancient people built a city using wood in the New Mexico desert far from any forests. By trying prehistoric transportation techniques themselves, archaeologists are working it out

Cats have a reputation for being aloof and untamed, but recent studies suggest they may be more attuned to humans than we realise