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: 19 days 20 hours 58 minutes
episode 1: Episode 1 - Paleontology
It’s the first episode of the Common Descent Podcast! Episode One’s discussion topic is the field of paleontology, our own experiences, and the kinds of things we’ll end up talking about in future episodes. In the news: pterosaurs, sunspots, trilobit...
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 1: Episode 11 - Antarctica
This episode is another listener-requested topic! We’re discussing the fascinating and mysterious continent of Antarctica, its long complex history, and the rare and intriguing fossils that are found there. In the news: a baby bird in amber, ancient ...
episode 2: Episode 2 - Crocodilians
We’re back for Episode 2! This episode we’re talking about Will’s favorite group of animals: crocodilians, their fascinating modern diversity, and their even more astonishing fossil history. In the news: our bag-like ancestors, dinosaur proteins, gia...
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...
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 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 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 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 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...