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Vanderbilt’s Evolutionary Studies Initiative Honored with 2025 Friend of Darwin Award

Jun. 4, 2025—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) has named Vanderbilt University’s Evolutionary Studies Initiative (ESI) as one of its 2025 recipients of the prestigious Friend of Darwin award. This national honor recognizes ESI’s outstanding contributions to advancing public understanding of evolution through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach. Directed...

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A man with short dark hair, a beard, and glasses sits at a lab workstation. He wears a black hoodie and looks toward the camera with a slight smile. Behind him are two computer screens—one showing a terminal with lines of code and the other displaying a flowchart with scientific diagrams. Shelves above the desk hold plastic lab containers labeled “200 uL Filter” and “1000 uL Filter.”

A Conservative Defense: Downstream NFLs Resist Evolutionary Blitzes

May. 9, 2025—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator In football, defense keeps the opposing team in check. A similar strategy is at play inside our cells. Negative feedback loops (NFLs) help regulate how cells respond to signals, for example, dialing down activity when things get too intense. A new study from Vanderbilt University reveals that these...

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Split image with three sections. Left: A woman from Vanderbilt University's Evolutionary Studies booth engages a child with fossil replicas at an outdoor event. Center: Bold text reads “New Research Reveals Surprising Dietary Similarities Among Saber-Toothed Cats,” above the DeSantis DREAM Lab logo, which features a stylized kangaroo. Right: A researcher in a blue shirt examines a specimen under a microscope in front of scientific posters.

New Research Reveals Surprising Dietary Similarities Among Saber-Toothed Cats—Plus, Join Us for a Special Kids’ Day Event at Bridgestone Arena!

Apr. 4, 2025—Nashville, TN – April 4, 2025 – A innovative study led by researchers from Vanderbilt University sheds new light on the dietary ecology of the iconic saber-toothed cat, Smilodon. The study, published in a special issue on sabertoothed organisms in The Anatomical Record, reveals that Smilodon fatalis and Smilodon gracilis—two species that lived thousands to...

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Gianni Castiglione stands in a lab at Vanderbilt University surrounded by scientific equipment, including pipettes, a centrifuge, and ice buckets. He wears glasses and a light blue button-down shirt, smiling slightly with one hand at his side. A caption in a black box reads: “New research from the Castiglione Lab shows how one rare mutation supercharged equine energy.” The Evolutionary Studies Initiative logo is in the top right corner, and a purple border outlines the image.

Castiglione Lab Discover Horses Run Faster by Ignoring an Ancient Mutation that Says ‘Stop’

Mar. 27, 2025—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Evolution often makes a deal with the devil, creating challenges for treating human disease. By mass, the muscles of thoroughbred racehorses consume more than twice the oxygen of elite human athletes. Yet, oxygen produces free radicals, which damage organ tissues. Balancing energy production with oxidative stress is also...

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Illustrated depiction of a vintage classroom with wooden desks, shelves filled with books, and a large globe on a stand. The walls feature tall windows with natural light streaming in. The text overlay reads: 'Examining the Scopes ‘Monkey’ Trial 100 years later; Dialogue Vanderbilt to host events.'

Examining the Scopes ‘Monkey’ Trial 100 years later; Dialogue Vanderbilt to host events

Jan. 28, 2025—

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Ken Catania sitting in his office holding a staff with a skull reproduction.

Vanderbilt Researcher Finds Jewel Wasp Cocoons Can Withstand Cannibalism

Nov. 15, 2024—By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator New research from Ken Catania, Stevenson Professor of Biological Sciences, shows another incredible result. The “Cocoon of the Developing Emerald Jewel Wasp (Ampulex compressa) Resists Cannibalistic Predation of the Zombified Host” was published in Brain, Behavior, and Evolution. Catania’s research program focuses on the weird in nature. His...

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A group of people is seated on a brightly patterned mat inside a rustic room. A local man smiles and waves at the camera, while others, including two researchers using tablet devices, sit nearby. The background includes personal belongings and a small fan, giving the space a homely feel.

Beyond the Thrifty Genotype: Examining Evolutionary Hypotheses for Modern Metabolic Health

Nov. 12, 2024—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies Scientific Coordinator A new review co-led by graduate students Layla Brassington and Audrey Arner of the Lea Lab discusses the formulation of the popular and impactful Thrifty Genotype Hypothesis. This hypothesis, proposed by James Neel in 1962, suggests that fat deposition and energy conservation were once useful traits in times...

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An older man with glasses and hearing aids, dressed in a tan suit, holding a piece of bread and a hat, is in conversation with a younger man in a blue suit and tie outdoors, surrounded by greenery

The Legacy of Chancellor Kirkland: Education, Evolution, and the Scopes Trial

Sep. 27, 2024—By: Neomi Chen, Evolutionary Studies communications assistant Chancellor James Hampton Kirkland was a significant figure in the education landscape of the early 20th century, particularly recognized for his leadership of Vanderbilt University after the 1925 Scopes Trial. His views on evolution and education were instrumental in shaping the discourse around these topics at Vanderbilt University...

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