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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

51:33

...But We Digress - Mermaids

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/07/22

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:

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01:50:48

Episode 39 - Speculative Evolution

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/07/15

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 ..

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01:52:13

Episode 38 - Grass

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/07/01

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:

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46:35

Silver Screen Science - Jurassic World: Fallen...

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/06/30

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:

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01:12:19

Episode 37.5 - More Birds

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/06/24

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 bonus

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47:46

Silver Screen Science - Jurassic World (4/5)

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/06/23

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:

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01:43:35

Episode 37 - Evolution of Birds

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/06/17

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 & Announcements:

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40:44

Silver Screen Science - Jurassic Park III (3/5)

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/06/16

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:

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37:40

Silver Screen Science - The Lost World: Jurassic Park...

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/06/09

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:

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01:53:31

Episode 36 - Reefs

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/06/03

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 discussion,

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47:33

Silver Screen Science - Jurassic Park (1/5)

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/06/02

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:

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01:35:43

Episode 35 - De-extinction

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/05/20

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

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01:29:43

Episode 34 - Ancient DNA

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/05/06

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:

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14:12

Crocs vs Snakes - The Poll Returns

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/05/01

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:

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01:44:21

Survey Response and Q&A

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/04/30

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:

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01:45:12

Episode 33 - Ontogeny

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/04/22

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

en

01:33:24

Episode 32 - Naracoorte Caves, Australia

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/04/08

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 News:

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01:40:59

Episode 31 - The Ediacaran Biota

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/03/25

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 Main

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01:36:45

Episode 30 - Prehistoric Poop

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/03/11

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 giant

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01:41:52

Episode 29 - Placoderms, The Armored Fish

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2018/02/25

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 on

en

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