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PODCAST

The Common Descent Podcast

Join David and Will as they explore the paleontologists’ perspective on various topics in life and earth history. Each episode features a main discussion on a topic requested by the listeners, presented as a lighthearted and educational conversation about fossils, evolution, deep time, and more. Before the main discussion, each episode also includes a news segment, covering recent research related to paleontology and evolution. Each episode ends with the answer to a question submitted by

science natural sciences

All Episodes

02:01:53

Episode 112 - Caves

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/05/02

Subterranean passages and chambers within the Earth form eerie and incredible environments that are home to unique ecosystems of bizarre creatures and which serve as some of the most invaluable sources of fossils in the world. This episode, we discuss how caves form, what ecosystems dwell within them, and why they’re so darn important for paleontology. In the news: pterosaur thumbs, scimitar-cat diets, counting T. rex, and ancient soil DNA. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News:

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02:10:29

Episode 111 - Eusociality

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/04/18

There isn’t much on Earth quite like an ant colony or a beehive. Lots of animals are social, but relatively few are eusocial. It’s a bizarre lifestyle, living in large multi-generational colonies with lots of members who don’t reproduce but instead dedicate their lives to protecting and nourishing the offspring of the few reproducers. In this episode, we discuss the many questions surrounding this phenomenon, including how many times this trait has evolved, why it’s apparently so beneficial, and

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01:00:44

Silver Screen Science – Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/04/12

We’ve talked a lot about Godzilla and King Kong in previous Silver Screen Science episodes, and now there’s a new movie with both of them in it, so we’re going to talk about that! More monster fights, more science, more fun. This episode, the all-star monsters are back: Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) We also briefly discuss the last time these monsters met: King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) Find merch at the Common Descent Store! http://zazzle.com/common_descent Follow and Support us on: Patreon:

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01:29:09

Episode 110 - Mazon Creek Fossil Beds

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/04/04

Go searching in the right spots in Illinois and you’re liable to find a hard chunk of ironstone with a gorgeous fossil inside. The Mazon Creek Fossil Beds represent some of the best Carboniferous fossils in the world, yielding exceptionally preserved plants and animals from a tropical river delta over 300 million years old. This episode, we discuss the history, the geology, and some of the most famously bizarre creatures of Mazon Creek. In the news: a “winged” shark, digging ankylosaurs, the oldest

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01:58:34

Episode 109 - Hyenas

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/03/21

Despite their unfortunate reputation, hyenas are really impressive. Modern and fossil, they’re a diverse group with a variety of dietary and social habits, and they are the quintessential example of bone-crushing specialists. In this episode, we discuss what makes hyenas unique and interesting, and we take a look at their surprisingly varied fossil history. In the news: lamprey larvae, octopus diets, nesting dinosaurs, and tyrannosaur bites. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News:

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01:59:22

Episode 108 - Penguins

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/03/07

Penguins aren’t the only flightless birds, and they aren’t the only diving birds, but they sure are good at doing both! In this episode, we discuss modern penguins’ unique suite of adaptations that allow them to spend so much of their lives in the water, and then we address some of the most pressing questions about their past: How did they get their start? What drove their evolution? And why were some of them so disconcertingly large? In the news: giant coelacanths, really old DNA, fossil vampire

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02:04:10

Episode 107 – Tusks

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/02/21

Taking teeth to the extreme! Tusks have evolved numerous times, particularly in mammals, and they’ve come in a striking array of shapes and sizes for a variety of uses. From the monstrously huge ivory tusks of mammoths to the modest yet effective tusks of fanged deer to the bizarre and perplexing tusks of babirusas and narwhals, in this episode we discuss trends, drivers, and mysteries in the evolution of tusks. In the news: razor-toothed mosasaurs, walk the dinosaur, sidewinder skin, and really old

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01:55:34

Episode 106 - Franz Nopcsa

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/02/07

Happy Darwin Day! Baron Franz Nopcsa was a paleontologist around the start of the 20th Century, remembered today for his innovative fossil research, his (in)famous personality, and his fantastic adventures across Eastern Europe. In this episode, we’ll discuss how this aristocrat became a paleontologist and how he contributed to our modern understanding of dinosaurs, and we’ll share some of the incredible and bizarre stories that surround him. In the news: Parasaurolophus crests, sand striker

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02:11:45

Episode 105 - Carnivorous Plants

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/01/24

A new tradition begins! Get ready for more plants with our friend Dr. Aly Baumgartner! Most plants are content to sit still and take in sunlight and soil nutrients, but when conditions are tough, some plants get hungry! The habit of devouring small animals has evolved in plants several times. In this episode, we discuss what counts as carnivory in plants, why they do it, the various methods plants use to murder their meals, and what little we know about the evolutionary history of this

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01:42:24

Episode 104 - Pinnipeds

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2021/01/10

Seals, sea lions, and walruses (oh my!) are widespread, successful, and invariably charming. In this episode, we take a look at how they’re adapted for their aquatic lifestyles and how they might have gotten that way. We’ll explore some of the unanswered questions about their origins and evolution, and we’ll take a tour through their diverse but spotty fossil record. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:04:00 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:29:00 Main discussion, Part 2:

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03:47:07

End of the Year Q&A 2020

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/12/31

Happy New Year! A huge thanks to everyone who sent in questions for this year’s Q&A – we got more than we could even answer! – and to everyone who has supported the podcast this year by listening, sharing, donating, and reaching out to us. Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Find merch at the Common Descent Store! http://zazzle.com/common_descent Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter:

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01:44:37

Episode 103 – The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/12/27

The PETM has been called the largest natural climate change event of the Cenozoic Era. It marks the transition from the ecosystems of the Paleocene to the more familiar world of the Eocene and is thus an important step in making the world the way we know it today. But maybe most importantly, it is a dramatic case study in what happens when a huge amount of Carbon injected into the atmosphere triggers rapid warming of global climate … you know, in case anyone needs to know about that. In the news:

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02:03:18

Episode 102 - Parasites

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/12/13

The word parasite doesn’t typically invoke a lot of happy thoughts for us humans, but as far as life on Earth is concerned, parasitism is a path to success. As we discuss in this episode, an incredible diversity of organisms, past and present, have developed an equally incredible diversity of strategies for stealing, siphoning, and exploiting resources from other organisms. In the news: surprise bird beak, alligator tails, flightless birds, and chemical re-assessment. Time markers: Intro &

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01:52:59

Episode 101 - Sauropods

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/11/29

Is there a group of dinosaurs more iconic than sauropods? Famous for their ridiculously long necks, their global success, their astounding diversity, and of course for their unparalleled size, sauropods have fascinated and puzzled people for centuries. In this episode, we’ll explore what makes sauropods and their ancestors special, and we’ll talk a bit about how they functioned at truly colossal scales. In the news: strange-jawed sharks, ancient walruses, dinosaur demise, and the oldest

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01:07:51

100 Episodes: A Look Back

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/11/22

We’ve released 100 episodes of the podcast! Plus, more than 50 side episodes, a handful of YouTube videos, some live shows … it’s been quite a journey. In this episode, we take some time to look back over our experience, to discuss some of our favorite aspects of the podcast, and above all, to thank our listeners. Thank you. To everyone who listens to the podcast; everyone who supports us on Patreon; everyone who sends us requests, questions, comments, and feedback; everyone who follows us on social

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02:39:40

Episode 100 - the Origin of Life

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/11/15

One hundred episodes is kind of a big deal, so we figured we’d pick a big deal kind of topic, and it doesn’t get much bigger than this. As far as we can tell, all life on Earth is descended from a common ancestry – at some point, at least once, life originated on Earth. But when, where, and how? These are open questions that have been subject to lots of scientific and philosophical discussions and experiments. In this episode, we’ll touch on some of the biggest questions: What even is life? How old

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02:03:37

Episode 99 - Evolution of Insects

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/11/01

Insects must be among the most impressive animals in Earth history. For hundreds of millions of years, they have been some of the most significant animals on land in terms of their abundance, diversity, and ecological impact. Their deep story is marked by evolutionary innovations that weren’t just major events for insects, but major events for the entire planet. This episode, we barely scratch the surface of the insect story. In the news: a new pterosaur, big Antarctic birds, gliding dinosaurs, and

en

51:06

Spook-E - the Sirens

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/10/31

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. It’s October once again and time for Spook-E! Each episode throughout this month, we’re choosing a monster and discussing how it – or something like – might evolve biologically, pulling inspiration from critters of the real world. This month’s theme: sea monsters. This episode, we turn our attention to the creatures whose enticing songs sound over the sea. How can we naturally evolve a group of humanoid(ish) island-dwellers whose voices lure in victims? Our

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55:27

Spook-E - the Leviathan

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/10/24

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. It’s October once again and time for Spook-E! Each episode throughout this month, we’re choosing a monster and discussing how it – or something like – might evolve biologically, pulling inspiration from critters of the real world. This month’s theme: sea monsters. This episode, we explore a monster whose name is synonymous with immensity and might. What biological history could explain a dangerous sea giant worthy of divine association? Our creature to create

en

02:03:14

Episode 98 - Species and Speciation

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2020/10/18

When we study life, past or present, we talk a lot about species, their evolution, their diversity, their extinction, and more. But we don’t often slow down to discuss what we really mean by that. What is a species? How and where do new species arise? It turns out this topic is much more complicated – and controversial! – than it may seem. In this episode, we’ll touch on the basics and discuss why scientists get so worked up about species and speciation. In the news: a glass-ified brain, a

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