Mini-episodes are rewards for our high-level supporters on Patreon, each one focusing on a requested topic for a specific Patron. From time to time, we combine a bunch of these and release them as a bundle for all our listeners to enjoy. Enjoy! A huge thanks as always to our Patrons for their kind and generous contributions to our education efforts. Intro: 00:00:00 Icarosaurus for Elizabeth - 00:02:25 Corvids for Stephen - 00:17:20 Thylacines for Traci - 00:40:45 Shrikes for Oscar - 01:02:10 Ent...
Dec 04, 2023•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 261
If things get too hot or too cold, the crucial processes inside the cells and tissues of living organisms stop working properly, and that’s bad. So, organisms expend a lot of time and energy managing their body temperatures. This episode, we break down the familiar concepts of “warm-blooded” and “cold-blooded,” we discuss the many adaptations that animals use to manage the heat, we explore what evidence allows us to interpret thermoregulatory strategies in the fossil record, and we investigate w...
Nov 26, 2023•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 260
Listen up! The world around us is full of sound, and animals have evolved numerous strategies for receiving and interpreting those sounds. In this episode, we discuss the many varieties of sound-sensing organs and how they’ve evolved repeatedly throughout life history. We’ll also explore some of the other important things that ears can do, including the ever-important task of maintaining our equilibrium. In the news: carnivorous lampreys, caterpillar legs, early dragonflies, and the sea star bod...
Nov 12, 2023•2 hr 24 min•Ep. 259
Welcome … to Cute-E! Every October during Spook-E, we have fun speculatively evolving monsters from myths and stories, but we leave out the cuddlier side of fiction. In Cute-E, we’re choosing kinder creatures and discussing how they – or something like them - might evolve under the rules of evolution and natural selection, pulling inspiration from organisms of the real world. This year’s theme: Dragons. This episode, we snuggle up with the sweeter side of dragons. How might natural processes pro...
Nov 04, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 257
These days, we Homo sapiens are the only humans around, but that wasn’t always the case. This episode, we are joined by special guest Dr. Bridget Alex to discuss our most famous extinct cousins, Neanderthals. We explore what makes them similar and dissimilar to us, what evidence we use to study their lives and culture, and how our understanding of them has grown from outdated misrepresentations to the complex and fascinating people we now know them to have been. In the news: a fossil bat skull, ...
Oct 29, 2023•2 hr 39 min•Ep. 258
Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. It’s October, and that means it’s Spook-E Season once again! Each episode in the series, we pick a type of monster and explore how it – or something like it – might evolve under the rules of evolution and natural selection, pulling inspiration from life in the real world. This year’s theme: Dragons. This episode, we combine some disparate mythologies. How could nature give rise to a shelled wonder with a mixed reputation? Our creatures to create this time: ...
Oct 28, 2023•44 min•Ep. 255
Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. It’s October, and that means it’s Spook-E Season once again! Each episode in the series, we pick a type of monster and explore how it – or something like it – might evolve under the rules of evolution and natural selection, pulling inspiration from life in the real world. This year’s theme: Dragons. This episode, we investigate a modern favorite. How could natural selection give us a (perhaps) more reasonably shaped dragon? Our creatures to create this time...
Oct 21, 2023•58 min•Ep. 254
Hadrosaurs (the so-called “duckbill” dinosaurs) and their fellow ornithopods were among the most abundant and successful dinosaur groups of all time. This episode, we discuss their evolution and diversity, and we explore some of the most outstanding and unique features of the group, including their incredible fossil record, complex social behaviors, wacky head ornaments, and their truly incredible mouths. In the news: fluorescent mammals, snake tracks, leaf mining, and terror bird footprints. Ti...
Oct 15, 2023•2 hr 34 min•Ep. 256
Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. It’s October, and that means it’s Spook-E Season once again! Each episode in the series, we pick a type of monster and explore how it – or something like it – might evolve under the rules of evolution and natural selection, pulling inspiration from life in the real world. This year’s theme: Dragons. This episode, we travel to another part of the world. How could we end up with an elemental being that combines the features of many animals? Our creatures to c...
Oct 14, 2023•58 min•Ep. 253
Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. It’s October, and that means it’s Spook-E Season once again! Each episode in the series, we pick a type of monster and explore how it – or something like it – might evolve under the rules of evolution and natural selection, pulling inspiration from life in the real world. This year’s theme: Dragons. This episode, we start with something familiar. How might evolution produce a fearsome serpentine beast with four legs and two wings? Our creatures to create th...
Oct 07, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 251
Plants are delicious, nutritious, and full of energy, so they’re prime targets for all sorts of herbivores, parasites, and pathogens. But plants aren’t just sitting passively accepting attacks, they use a variety of strategies to defend themselves, from the frustrating to the fatal. This episode, we’re joined by our favorite paleobotanist, Aly Baumgartner, to discuss the many ways plants defend themselves – physically, chemically, and beyond – and the fascinating evolutionary history of plant de...
Oct 01, 2023•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 252
Earth’s oceans change over time, not just in their size and shape, but also in the very dynamics of their ecosystems. The stage was set for modern ocean ecosystems by an event called the Mesozoic Marine Revolution, a dramatic restructuring of ecology in shallow seas that saw the rise of many forms of active predatory lifestyles. This episode, we discuss the fossil evidence, the major players, and the ongoing and sometimes contentious research into this crucial period. In the news: early arthropo...
Sep 17, 2023•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 250
Eating plants isn’t easy, and yet the habit has evolved many times over the history of life on Earth, and herbivores have become essential components of ecosystems as we know them. This episode, we discuss the adaptations animals use to get around the challenges of plant-eating, as well as the incredible history of the repeated origins of herbivory. In the news: vampire squids, death by ammonite, early archosaurs, and dinosaur tracks. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06...
Sep 03, 2023•2 hr 12 min•Ep. 249
There’s a new paleontology-adjacent movie out there, and as usual, it’s a great opportunity to examine how science is translated to the big screen. Back to the Cretaceous (kind of) – 65 (2023) Check out our website for more stuff: http://commondescentpodcast.com/ Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/ We’r...
Aug 27, 2023•53 min•Ep. 248
For much of their evolutionary history, whales have been divided into two main lineages: baleen whales and toothed whales. The toothed variety are especially diverse today, including sperm whales, belugas, porpoises, and so, so many dolphins (among others). This episode, we explore what makes toothed whales distinct – besides the obvious – and what the whale fossil record tells us about how they came to be among the most successful marine animals in Earth history. In the news: leaf-eating birds,...
Aug 20, 2023•2 hr 34 min•Ep. 247
Throughout Earth history, tectonic forces have changed the shape of the continents – and the oceans! You might be familiar with the Tethys Sea as an ancient ocean nestled against Pangaea, home to marine reptiles and more, but there’s actually a whole series of ancient bodies of water that bear this name. In this episode, we explore the various iterations of the Tethys, discuss how geologists study them, and examine how these ancient oceans shaped the world as we know it today. In the news: croco...
Aug 06, 2023•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 246
Mammals are famous for their ability to produce milk, a special substance that is essential for providing newborns with the ingredients they need for healthy development. As it turns out, mammals aren’t the only ones. Milk-like substances have evolved in many groups of animals which nourish their developing young. In this episode, we discuss what milk is, what it does, how it seems to have evolved, and the surprisingly long list of times animals have evolved the habit of providing nutritious flu...
Jul 23, 2023•2 hr 12 min•Ep. 245
Happy Snake Month! In this special episode, it’s all about snakes with our very own snake-enthusiast: David! Thanks to our Patrons for providing the inspiration for these interview questions! Join us on Patreon to support the podcast our scaly friends! https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.com/ We’re an Audible Affiliate Partner! Use this link for a 30-day free trial to Audible: https://www.audibletrial.com/Common...
Jul 16, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 244
Snakes are surprisingly good at adapting to life in saltwater. Today’s seafaring serpents include a wide diversity of semi-marine species as well as a fascinating assortment of fully oceanic snakes, and this is a tradition that extends well into the past, with numerous radiations of ancient sea snakes. This episode, we explore the repeated evolution of marine lifestyles in snakes, and the array of adaptations that have allowed them to take to the sea. Happy Snake Month! In the news: dinosaur han...
Jul 09, 2023•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 243
Most crocodilians today can handle saltwater to some degree, but many of their ancient cousins were much more suited to a life at sea, including some of the most impressive ocean-going reptiles in history. In this episode, we’ll explore the many lineages of marine crocs that have evolved over the last 150 million years, and we’ll dive into the special adaptations that allowed them to take to the seas over and over again. Happy Croc Month! In the news: a dinosaur transition, tusked dolphins, bird...
Jun 25, 2023•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 242
Happy Croc Month! In this special episode, we talk about crocs with the croc-fanatic himself: our very own Will! Thanks to our Patrons for providing the inspiration for these interview questions! Join us on Patreon to support the podcast our scaly friends! https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.com/ We’re an Audible Affiliate Partner! Use this link for a 30-day free trial to Audible: https://www.audibletrial.com/Co...
Jun 17, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 241
When scientists find a new rock formation or fossil assemblage, how do they determine how old it is? The answer lies in the many varied methods of geologic dating. In this episode, we’ll discuss how we can sort the events in Earth history, how we calculate specific ages for ancient materials – including a deep-dive into radiometric dating! – and most importantly, how these many techniques support and complement each other. In the news: gaze following, polar pterosaurs, pachycephalosaur heads, an...
Jun 11, 2023•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 240
In our modern world, there are three major groups of mammals: placentals (that’s most of us), marsupials, and the rare and bizarre monotremes. Today’s monotremes – that’s echidnas and platypuses – are famous for their seemingly “un-mammalian” features: they lack external ears, they deliver milk without nipples, and they even lay eggs! This episode, we discuss what makes monotremes unique, the many questions still unanswered about their ancient history, and whether or not they are truly good repr...
May 28, 2023•2 hr 8 min•Ep. 239
One of the hallmarks of angiosperms (flowering plants) is the formation of a container to hold their seeds. These containers are fruits, and they come in an astonishing variety of forms and functions, far beyond the typical line up of fruits, nuts, and berries we see at the grocery store. Join us and our favorite paleobotanist Dr. Aly Baumgartner as we explore what fruits are, what fruits do, and how fruits came to be so ubiquitous and important in modern ecosystems. In the news: big predatory a...
May 14, 2023•2 hr 22 min•Ep. 238
From roughly 1.8 – 0.8 billion years ago, things on Earth seemingly slowed down. The geologic record shows a conspicuous lack of evidence for major climatic, tectonic, or biological changes, a dramatic contrast to the tumultuous times before and after. In this episode, we explore this so-called “Boring Billion” and discuss what made it so unusual. Along the way, we’ll examine claims that there might have been more going on than we think, that this time might have been a critical step toward the ...
Apr 30, 2023•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 237
As you might know by now, our high-level supporters on Patreon get to request a topic for their own special mini-episode! Every now and then, we collect the most recent of these and put them together into a compilation for everyone to hear. This is our third one! A huge thanks as always to our Patrons for their kind contributions to our education efforts. 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:15 Stegosaurs for Sean 00:16:30 Tarantulas for Rebecca 00:35:00 Dilophosaurus for Hobart 00:52:15 Turtles for Quags 01:13...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 236
Check the fingers and toes of your favorite vertebrate animals and you’re likely to find claws or something similar at the ends. These digit-caps come in a variety of shapes – claws, nails, even hooves – for a variety of functions. In this episode, we discuss the close relationship between claw form and function, how we study claws in the fossil record, and the intriguing questions of how claws came to be as we know them today. In the news: swimming temnospondyls, ants and plants, Troodon eggs, ...
Apr 16, 2023•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 235
You’re probably familiar with frogs and salamanders, but there is a third group of modern amphibians, the strangest of them all: the worm-like caecilians. In this episode, we’ll explore the many bizarre anatomical features of caecilians, from their tentacled faces to their abrupt hind ends. Then we’ll explore the entire caecilian fossil record (it won’t take long) and tackle the much-discussed mystery of how this fascinating lineage of amphibians got started. In the news: weird marsupial eyes, l...
Apr 02, 2023•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 234
We spend a huge portion of our lives sleeping. For us and other animals, it’s clearly a very important behavior. And yet, despite how familiar and commonplace it is, there’s plenty we still don’t understand about sleep: its origins, evolution, and even how to define it in the first place. In this episode, we explore some of the remarkable variation in animal sleeping habits, we discuss some of the ways we study and understand sleep, and we touch upon the crucial – and much debated – question of ...
Mar 18, 2023•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 233
Once, it was a volcanic crater. Then, it was a lake, perhaps equal parts lush and deadly. Much later, it was a mining site. And finally, today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous and heavily studied fossil sites in the world. In this episode, we discuss the history and formation of the Messel Pit, and we ooh and aah over a small sampling of the many thousands of incredible fossils that have been found there. In the news: lacewing larvae, folding leaves, dinosaur growth...
Mar 05, 2023•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 232
