New sequences of 50 genes from 17 taxa successfully resolve fungal evolution, but not animal evolution, because animals evolved in a series of closely spaced steps in deep time.

The two oxygens that form double bonds to uranium in a common compound can be replaced with nitrogen groups, shedding light on the nature of bonding in actinide metals.

Isotopic data from more than 100 of Earth's oldest preserved minerals imply that Earth had significant continental crust by 4.3 and perhaps as early as 4.5 billion years ago.