When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The human outer ear may have arisen from ancient fish gills. | Credit: A. Martin UW ...

LOS ANGELES — Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the origins of the human outer ear, revealing that this distinctive mammalian feature evolved from an unexpected source: fish gills.

The outer ear is unique to mammals, but its evolutionary origin has remained a mystery. According to a new study published in Nature from the USC Stem Cell lab of Gage Crump, this intricate coil of ...

It turns out the human ear got off to a fishy start. Literally. A fascinating new study reveals that the mammalian outer ear has its evolutionary roots in the gills of ancient fish. This surprising ...

Evolution is a master recycler. It often uses old structures (or ancient genes) for new jobs. The mammalian ear is a perfect example. Over the eons, the jawbones of our fish ancestors became three ...

The vagus nerve is called the "wandering nerve" because it's the longest nerve in the human body and travels from the base of the brain up into the ears and down into the lower intestines. In recent ...

Audiologist Chris Workman explains earwax's role, safe ear care, and how to manage buildup to protect ear health and hearing ...

Humans' outer ears may have evolved from the gills of prehistoric fish, a new study finds. Gene-editing experiments indicate that cartilage in fish gills migrated into the ear canal millions of years ...