x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

02:02:53

Episode 193 - Hopping

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/06/09

Terrestrial animals get around using a variety of gaits: walking, running, galloping, etc. Some of these gaits are particularly bouncy! Hopping comes in many forms in many different groups of animals. This episode, we’ll discuss what makes a particular gait “hoppy,” what functions hopping serves, and what adaptations are found in the best hoppers. Then, we’ll explore what we can tell about hopping in the fossil record.In the news: dinosaur skin, marine worms, ancient monotremes, and plant-ant

en

01:12:01

Spotlight 2024 - Sabrina and Garret, I Know Dino

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/06/05

Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication. Returning to the podcast for this episode are Sabrina and Garret, hosts of I Know Dino! Find I Know Dino at these places: https://iknowdino.com https://www.patreon.com/join/iknowdino https://pod.link/960976813 Connect with Common Descent: https://linktr.ee/common_descent Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content:

en

02:11:11

Episode 192 - Tongues

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/05/26

Tongues are a common feature among tetrapod animals, but the evolution of this organ is complex and fascinating. Through time, tongues have evolved a wide variety of functions from feeding to sensing to speech. This episode, we’ll explore the diversity of tongues and their bony counterparts in the hyoid apparatus, we’ll examine what’s known about tongue evolution, and we’ll discuss how fossils – especially hyoids – help us interpret the tongues of extinct species.In the news: dinosaur temperatures,

en

02:04:37

Episode 191 - Language

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/05/12

Language is possibly the most important and incredible ability that sets humans apart from other species. Whether spoken, written, or signed, language exists in thousands of varieties among modern human cultures, and there are some very language-like communication systems in other animals, too. This episode, we discuss what defines language, what makes it so special, and what we understand about its history and origins among our ancestors. In the news: orangutan medicine, frog skin, giant sharks,

en

01:08:42

Spotlight 2024 - Dylan Wilmeth, Bedrock

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/05/01

Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication.This episode, we’re joined by Dylan Wilmeth, host of Bedrock: Earth’s Earliest History! Find Dylan’s podcast here: https://www.bedrockpodcast.com/ Connect with Common Descent: https://linktr.ee/common_descent 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

en

02:13:12

Episode 190 - Cicadas

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/04/28

Cicadas are among the most famous insects in the world, and in summer 2024, they’re set to put on quite a show in North America! This episode, we explore the function and evolution of cicadas’ most famous features, including their notoriously loud calls and their incredible life cycles, and we’ll take a peek into the past at the fossil record of cicadas and their ancient cousins. In the news: giant snakes, big kangaroos, dinosaur amino acids, and echolocation tissues. Time markers: Intro &

en

01:08:29

Silver Screen Science - Jaws

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/04/24

It’s a new series of Silver Screen Science! As usual, we’re discussing how science is portrayed on the big screen, this time with a new theme: Sharks! It’s a series about shark movies, so how could we skip the most famous and influential shark film of all time? – Jaws. Check out our website for blog posts and more: 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

en

55:12

Silver Screen Science - Deep Blue Sea

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/04/17

It’s a new series of Silver Screen Science! As usual, we’re discussing how science is portrayed on the big screen, this time with a new theme: Sharks!This time, we’re exploring the monster sharks and suspicious science of a 90s shark classic – Deep Blue Sea. Check out our website for blog posts and more: 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

en

02:33:52

Episode 189 - Dromaeosaurs

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/04/14

This group of predatory dinosaurs includes such famous names as Deinonychus, Microraptor, and Velociraptor, and they’re among the most well-studied and popular dinosaurs of all time. This episode, we’ll discuss what sets these dinosaurs apart, as well the much-discussed and -debated questions surrounding their relationships to birds, their distinctive claws and wings, and their hunting strategies.In the news: ant-mimic spiders, fishapod spinal column, early dinosaur growth, and a fossil

en

01:01:18

Silver Screen Science - Meg 2: The Trench

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/04/10

It’s a new series of Silver Screen Science! As usual, we’re discussing how science is portrayed on the big screen, this time with a new theme: Sharks! This episode, we’re examining the newest installment in the film series about giant monster ancient sharks – Meg 2: The Trench. Check out our website for blog posts and more: 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

en

01:04:17

Spotlight 2024 - James, Amanda, and Curtis, Palaeo...

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/04/03

Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication.It’s episode two, and our guests are the hosts of Palaeo After Dark: James, Amanda, and Curtis! Find Palaeo After Dark at their website: www.palaeoafterdark.com Connect with Common Descent: https://linktr.ee/common_descent 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

en

02:20:49

Episode 188 - Cannibalism

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/03/31

An animal eating another member of its own species might sound like a rare and abnormal occurrence – and it is often portrayed that way – but cannibalism is actually extremely widespread and common in nature. Some animals are occasional cannibals, while some go so far as to rely on this behavior to fuel proper growth and development. In this episode, we’ll discuss some of the varieties of cannibalism, explore how this behavior has been misunderstood and misconstrued in the past, and investigate some

en

02:07:07

Episode 187 - Migration

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/03/17

Among the most spectacular of animal behaviors is migration, the habit of many species to undertake massive journeys, sometimes traveling thousands of kilometers to access food or breeding grounds. This episode, we explore the incredible diversity of migratory behaviors, we examine the functions and adaptations that make migration happen, we discuss how migration is defined, and we investigate some of the tools we can use to identify migration in the distant past.In the news: giant crabs, fossil

en

01:11:03

Spotlight 2024 - Adele Pentland, Pals in Palaeo

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/03/06

Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication.In this first episode, our guest is Adele Pentland, host of Pals in Palaeo! Find Adele and Pals in Palaeo in these places: https://adelepentland.com/ https://palsinpalaeo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/palsinpalaeo/ https://www.instagram.com/palaeodel/ Connect with Common Descent: https://linktr.ee/common_descent Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus

en

02:09:39

Episode 186 - Owls

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/03/03

Owls are among the world’s most iconic and charismatic birds, and they’re also among the most effective aerial predators. This episode, we’ll take a tour of the amazing adaptations that have allowed owls to achieve their modern diversity and worldwide range, and we’ll explore what we know – and what we don’t – about their evolutionary history.In the news: snake evolution, ancient polar life, dinosaur joints, and dragon teeth. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:10 Main

en

02:16:50

Episode 185 - Cacti

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/02/18

Cacti are famous for their spine-shaped leaves, their water-retaining tissues, their green stems, and especially for being among the most well-adapted organisms on Earth for dry environments. This episode, we’re joined by Dr. Aly Baumgartner to discuss the diversity of cacti, their unique adaptations for an unusual lifestyle, and their mysterious evolutionary past.In the news: Stone Age jewelry, kelp fossils, long-jawed fish, and early trees. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News:

en

01:54:36

Episode 184 - Richard Owen

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/02/04

A familiar name to modern biologists and paleontologists, Sir Richard Owen is famous for his pioneering work in the fields of paleontology and comparative anatomy, his contributions to public appreciation of biological sciences, and his often antagonistic relationships with contemporary scientists. This episode, we’ll explore Owen’s major scientific contributions and his long-standing reputation as a villain of 19th Century science. In the news: temnospondyl survivors, big sauropods, dinosaur

en

02:24:28

Episode 183 - Feathers

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/01/21

Feathers are among the most diverse and complex forms of animal integument. Today, they’re exclusive to birds, where they can be found in a dizzying variety of forms and functions, and incredible fossils reveal even more diversity of feathers on ancient dinosaurs. This episode, we explore the features of modern feathers, the mysteries of feather origins, and the much-discussed question of which ancient animals were truly feathered. In the news: sturdy bird necks, giant worms, early photosynthesis,

en

02:21:49

Episode 182 - Camouflage

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2024/01/07

Blending in with the surroundings is an incredibly useful habit. Even without evidence, this fact would be obvious from the sheer variety of organisms that do it and the vast diversity of strategies and adaptations they use. This episode, we look at what camouflage is and how it works in its many forms, and we explore how we can spot camouflage – and what we can learn from it – in the fossil record. In the news: curled-up trilobites, Antarctic octopus DNA, crab organs, and giant whales. Time

en

04:23:42

End of the Year Q&A 2023

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2023/12/31

Happy New Year! It’s time again for our annual answering-your-questions marathon episode! Thanks to all our askers for a great set of questions! And as always, a huge thanks to all of you who have supported the podcast this year, whether you’re a top-tier Patron or a newcomer who’s just a couple episodes in. You make Common Descent possible. Now sit back and enjoy several hours of us rambling about whatever you asked about. Check out our website for blog posts and

en

346 results

Similar Podcasts

Classic Radio Science Fiction

solgoodmedia.com

Mission to Mars

Inception Point Ai

The 365 Days of Astronomy

365DaysOfAstronomy.org

Creek Devil

william Jevning

UFO Chronicles Podcast

Nik Hunter