The island of Madagascar, isolated from all other landmasses on Earth, hosts one of the planet’s most unique ecosystems. But it’s not just an interesting place today – the geologic and fossil history of this land is equally fascinating! In this episode, we take a tour through time, stopping off at some of Madagascar’s most magical moments to marvel at some truly unique and incredible assortments of life. In the news: an early giant dinosaur, more on human origins, ancient fish appendages, and a ...
Jul 29, 2018•1 hr 47 min•Season 1Ep. 51
We just talked last episode about Speculative Evolution, so now is a great time to tackle another request we received: to talk about mermaids! In this digression, we discuss these famous mythical marine creatures and do some speculating of our own. Could aquatic humans evolve? And if so, what might they really look like? Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodc...
Jul 22, 2018•52 min•Ep. 50
This episode, we’re discussing the fun and fascinating “What If” thought experiments of evolution. From fantastical fictional stories to unusual scientific hypotheses to just-for-fun artistic creations, speculative evolution is all about exploring the unseen (and maybe never-to-be-seen) possibilities of real biological science. We’ll touch on some of our favorite “hard science fiction” as well as how this style of creative thinking can contribute to the study of real living creatures of the past...
Jul 15, 2018•1 hr 51 min•Season 1Ep. 49
At long last, a plant episode! Our friend Aly Baumgartner joins the podcast to teach us all about grass - it's not just part of the background! From humble beginnings during the Age of Reptiles, grasses have gone on to dominate global ecosystems (as well as human diet!) and continue to do so today. They are truly one of the most influential groups of life on Earth. In the news: strange ancient reef fish, dinosaur tongues, a surprise extinct gibbon, and a history of primate claws. Time markers: I...
Jul 01, 2018•1 hr 52 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Part 5 of 5! This is it – the end of our series! We’ve now re-watched all the old movies and finally turned to the newest one for our “science reviews.” How do these movies handle such subjects as prehistoric creatures, the science of paleontology, and the portrayal of scientists? Fresh out in theaters – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018). Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook...
Jun 30, 2018•47 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Surprise! We've gotten a lot of bird requests, so to follow up our Evolution of Birds discussion, we put together three mini-discussions based on other birds our listeners have asked to hear about: 1. The evolution and fossil history of flamingos. 2. The fossil record of the famous predatory "terror birds." 3. Argentavis and Pelagornis, history's largest flying birds. Time markers: Intro: 00:00:00 Flamingos: 00:02:30 Terror birds: 00:23:30 Giant flying birds: 00:46:30 Check out our blog for bonu...
Jun 24, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Part 4 of 5! Our Jurassic Park review series is almost done! All month, we’ve been re-watching the movies and chatting about the science in a series of “science reviews.” How do these movies handle such subjects as prehistoric creatures, the science of paleontology, and the portrayal of scientists? In this episode, the complex – and controversial – franchise revival: Jurassic World (2015). Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.co...
Jun 23, 2018•48 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Birds are such unique and fascinating animals; for many decades scientists have wondered at their evolutionary story – and so have many of our listeners! Well here it is: the Evolution of Birds, complete with some scientific history, key fossil finds, and a fly-by (yep) of the incredible diversity of critters that led to birds as we know them today In the news: history of the Great Barrier Reef, giant bony fish, early African tetrapods, and the oldest lizards. Time markers: Intro & Announcem...
Jun 17, 2018•1 hr 44 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Part 3 of 5! Every Saturday this month, we’re re-watching all of the Jurassic Park movies and chatting about the science in a series of “science reviews.” How do these movies handle such subjects as prehistoric creatures, the science of paleontology, and the portrayal of scientists? This time, the last of the original trilogy: Jurassic Park III (2001). Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://ww...
Jun 16, 2018•41 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Part 2 of 5! Each Saturday in June, we’re re-watching all of the Jurassic Park movies and chatting about the science in a series of “science reviews.” How do these films handle such subjects as prehistoric creatures, the science of paleontology, and the portrayal of scientists? Sequel time. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondesc...
Jun 09, 2018•38 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this episode, we’re examining the incredible formation of reefs! Not just coral – reef systems have been built by many different organisms over Earth history, and we’ll be touching on the details of these essential harbors of biodiversity: past, present, and prospects for the future. In the news: bone-crushing dogs, ancient global warming, a tick in a web, and how birds bounced back. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:30 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:35:00 Main discus...
Jun 03, 2018•1 hr 54 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Part 1 of 5! By the end of June, there will be five Jurassic Park films! So for each of the five Saturdays this month, we’re re-watching all of the movies and chatting about the science in a series of “science reviews.” How do these movies handle such subjects as prehistoric creatures, the science of paleontology, and the portrayal of scientists? This episode, we start at the beginning: Jurassic Park (1993). Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter:...
Jun 02, 2018•48 min•Season 1Ep. 40
It's time for another extinction episode! Is extinction truly forever? Could something like Jurassic Park actually be possible? If so, should we do it? As we speak, there are scientists around the world working on the early stages of answering these questions, and in the process developing the very real science of De-extinction. In the news: sea-going crocs, giant sea snakes, early baleen whales, and super-ancient viruses. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:30 Main dis...
May 20, 2018•1 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Only a few decades ago, the idea of pulling DNA from long-dead organisms was the stuff of science fiction, but the field of ancient DNA is now totally real and thriving. In this episode, we discuss how we get DNA from ancient specimens and just a bit of the incredible world of information paleogenetics opens up for scientists. In the news: Another ancient croc-cousin, human and sloth footprints, swimming human evolution, and the oldest wolverine! Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00...
May 06, 2018•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 38
THE GREAT DEBATEIS BACK! By popular demand! Will and David agree on most things, but not this... Help us settle our long-running debate - choose a side! Head to Twitter, Facebook, or Patreon and cast your vote! And then, if you like, tell us what you really think...what's YOUR favorite group of animals? Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/ PodBean: http...
May 01, 2018•14 min•Ep. 37
Thanks to everyone who filled out our Listener Survey! In this bonus episode, we’re discussing the feedback we got on the survey and how we’re planning for the future of the podcast. And then we’re answering all the wonderful questions you asked on the survey in an extended Q&A session! This starts about 20 minutes in. Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpo...
Apr 30, 2018•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 36
Animals don’t start their lives as tiny copies of adults; there are all sorts of changes that a creature goes through from fertilization to birth and from newborn to mature. This development is called ontogeny. In this episode, we discuss how ontogenetic change impacts animals as they grow, what we can learn from these patterns, and how ontogeny can cause confusion in the fossil record. In the news: colorful moth fossils, an enormous ichthyosaur, Neanderthals' strange faces, and sea turtle navig...
Apr 22, 2018•1 hr 45 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Over the past several hundred thousand years, Australia has witnesed numerous ice age cycles, ecosystems dominated by giant marsupials, the arrival of humans, the extinction of those giant animals, and more. And there may be no better window into this dynamic time period than the world-famous Naracoorte Caves of South Australia. In the news: an infected dinosaur, humans' earliest steps in Canada, horny dinosaurs, and a four-eyed ancient lizard. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 N...
Apr 08, 2018•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Before life as we know it, and before even the Cambrian Explosion, there was a time when the Earth was home to an assortment of strange squishy creatures so unusual that they defy most of our best attempts at classification. This episode, we discuss life’s earliest experiments with complex bodies: the Ediacaran Biota. In the news: the last pterosaurs, ancient lost tails, island spider evolution, and the legs of gators and crocs. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:30 Ma...
Mar 25, 2018•1 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Everybody poops! Throughout the history of life on Earth, animals of all lifestyles have been littering the planet with little presents, and those few that fossilize become coprolites: unique time capsules that can serve as invaluable sources of information, not just on obvious stuff like ancient diets, but also about evolution, extinction, and more. This episode: we talk turds. In the news: de-escalating plant evolution, reverse speciation in ravens, upside-down dinosaurs, and record-keeping gi...
Mar 11, 2018•1 hr 37 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In the earliest millennia of vertebrate life on Earth, the seas were home to the placoderms, a diverse group of extinct armored fish whose evolutionary innovations set the stage for some of the most important features of vertebrate life. This episode, we talk about some of history's most influential placoderms, with a special spotlight on the most famous of armored fish, the giant predator Dunkleosteus. In the news: asteroids and volcanoes, running lizards, Shawn's turtle, walking fish, and more...
Feb 25, 2018•1 hr 42 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Happy Darwin Day! In honor of Chuck's birthday (Feb 12), we are joined this episode by Dr. Sarah Bray of the Discovering Darwin podcast, to chat about the man whose research and writings laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of biology and evolution: Charles Darwin! In the news: orange crocs, insect evolution, and footprints at NASA! Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:00 Main discussion: 00:31:00 Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commond...
Feb 11, 2018•1 hr 35 min•Season 1Ep. 30
This episode, we explore the evolutionary innovation that brought us a diversity of animal companions, from corgis to cattle to cauliflower, and jump-started our species’ rise to world dominance: Domestication. In the news: a colorful new dinosaur, super-ancient butterflies, the evolution of tail weaponry, and migrating whale barnacles. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:02:00 Main discussion: 00:23:30 Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpo...
Jan 28, 2018•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 29
This episode, we look to the stars! Our discussion takes a tour across the field of astrobiology, the broad and thought-provoking science that seeks to answer the questions of how life arises, where it thrives, and where we might find it elsewhere in the universe, incorporating everything from astronomy to paleontology along the way. In the news: Ancient Americans, a frozen baby rhino, unique dinosaur bones, and a surprising shared feature of cells. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00...
Jan 14, 2018•1 hr 44 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode, we firmly establish a tradition of extinction-talk! This time, by request, it’s the latest major prehistoric extinction in Earth history, the event that took from us the mammoths, ground sloths, and other giants of the Ice Age, a mass extinction that our own species was around to witness (and perhaps even cause): the Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinction. In the news: mistaken Archaeopteryx identity, ticks with a taste for dinosaurs, evolution of the Tibetan Plateau, and ancient bea...
Dec 31, 2017•1 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 27
This episode, by listener request, is all about sloths! We explore their bizarre family tree, their adorable and internet-favorite living representatives, and their diverse and truly incredible ancient members. In the news: pterosaur eggs, a bizarre swimming dinosaur, the plight of paleontological monuments, and the ears of plesiosaurs. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:04:30 Main discussion: 00:33:00 Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpo...
Dec 17, 2017•1 hr 35 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Hold onto your butts … in this episode, we celebrate the intersection of science and popular culture with a discussion about the biggest dinosaur movie of all time, what makes it unique, and the incredible effect it had on the real-life world of paleontology: Jurassic Park . In the news: a new Jurassic glider, Tasmanian stromatolites, the world’s longest dinosaur trackway, and a tool for tracking fossils. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:30 Main discussion: 00:28:00 ...
Dec 03, 2017•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 25
This episode, we take a super up-close look at the tiniest components of the fossil record, the microscopic remains that are so essential to our understanding of earth history, and the field of study devoted to them: Micropaleontology. In the news: daytime mammals, unusual dinosaur teeth, the dinosaur family tree (again), and dead male mammoths. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:01:30 Main discussion: 00:27:00 Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://common...
Nov 19, 2017•1 hr 35 min•Season 1Ep. 24
There is no group of prehistoric creatures more iconic, more widely-studied, or more requested by our listeners, than the subject of this episode! This time, it's a brief introduction to Dinosaurs. In the news: colorful dinosaurs, the rise of big herbivores, an Indian ichthyosaur, and saber-tooth DNA. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:04:00 Main discussion: 00:29:00 Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Supp...
Nov 05, 2017•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 23
This episode, we’re taking a big step back at the concept that underlies everything we talk about on this podcast: the scientific method! Our discussion includes what exactly the method is, why we use it, and what can sometimes get lost in translation. In the news: fossilized salamander organs, dinosaur proteins (or not), the bizarre comb jellies, and fanged kangaroos. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:02:00 Main discussion: 00:29:30 Check out our blog for bonus info and...
Oct 22, 2017•1 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 22
