evolutionary biologylatest news & developments
Africa may be the birthplace of the world’s most popular magic mushroom.

Spore secrets: African ‘magic mushroom’ finally reveals its origins

Africa may be the birthplace of the world’s most popular magic mushroom. Scientists have identified Psilocybe ochraceocentrata, a potent psychedelic cousin of Psilocybe cubensis, growing on grasslands and cattle dung in SA and Zimbabwe

  • Sheree Bega
3 min read
Peripatopsis barnardi represents the first ever species from the Little Karoo, which indicates that the area was historically more forested than at present. It is one of seven new species from the Cape Fold Mountains described in a paper published in Ecology and Evolution. Image: Savel Daniels

Living ‘fossil’ found: Rare velvet worm species named after teenage explorer

A high school pupil’s nature walk led to a major scientific discovery

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read