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 subscribers on Patreon. New episodes with new topics every fortnight!
http://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 20 days 1 hour 28 minutes
...But We Digress - Tyrannosaur Skin (and Feathers?)
We’re back for another digression! Another new study is making (ridiculous) headlines all across the internet! It’s the first published investigation of Tyrannosaurus scales, by Bell et al., and it has people asking: where are the feathers? You can a...
episode 1: Episode 10 - The Tree of Life
This episode, we’re taking the time to talk about a subject that comes up just about every episode: the classification and relationships of living organisms. Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and the Tree of Life! In the news: giant ground sloth diets, how whales...
episode 10: Episode 9 - The Cambrian Explosion
In this episode, we’re discussing the dramatic event that saw the rise of modern animal life and formed the foundation for all animal ecosystems – an event as fascinating as it is mysterious – the Cambrian Explosion! In the news: brand new armored di...
episode 9: Episode 8 - Conservation Paleontology
This episode topic comes from a fan request! We’re discussing how lessons from our planet’s prehistoric record can guide our efforts to preserve modern ecosystems: this is the field of conservation paleontology. In the news: sword-tailed sea scorpion...
episode 8: Episode 7 - Primates
In this episode, we are joined by special guest Ethan Fulwood! He shares with us the fascinating diversity and evolutionary history of a familiar group of mammals called Primates. In the news: an ancient dinosaur-cousin, bats with diverse diets, and ...
episode 7: Episode 6 – Evolution of Flight
On this episode, we’re discussing one of nature’s most incredible inventions: flight – who has it, how do they do it, and most mysteriously, how did it evolve? In the news: Dinosaur footprints; tyrannosaur faces; life in a crater; and a beautiful anc...
episode 6: ...But We Digress - Ornithoscelida
Some big dinosaur-related news dropped last week - so big we just had to talk about it! So here's a mini-episode (a small digression) about the new study by Baron et al., and the phenomenon that has paleontologists going crazy: Ornithoscelida. Read m...
episode 5: Episode 5 - The K-Pg Extinction (the "Dinosaur Extinction")
In this episode, we discuss one of the most famously devastating events in Earth history – the mass extinction that ended the Age of Dinosaurs. In the news: the first fish on land, the earliest sharks, some really old croc eggs, and some really reall...
episode 4: Episode 4 - Island Evolution
In this episode, we’re exploring the unique and sometimes bizarre directions evolution takes on islands. In the news: ancient tortoise DNA, a better picture of dinosaurs, oyster conservation, and a giant scary worm! Time markers: Intro & Announcement...
episode 3: Episode 3 - Snakes
This time around the topic is David’s favorite group of life: snakes. We look at their impressive diversity, their mysterious origins, and their long fossil history. In the news: live-birth in archosaurs, ancient venom, horse evolution, and carnivoro...