Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.
Spook-E Season is back! All throughout October, we pick monsters from myth and media and speculate how they – or something like them – could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet’s history. This year’s theme is Monsters of Nintendo!
This episode, we begin with a baddie from the Mushroom Kingdom. What evolutionary path might generate a pipe-dwelling plant-like predator? Our creatures to create this time: Piranha Plants.
Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Spook-E discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
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Episode 227 - Beaks
The faces of vertebrate animals are often soft and full of teeth, but there is a common alternative. Birds, turtles, and many more groups have developed toothless snouts covered in a tough sheath. This episode, we’ll explore the defining features of beaks and their various functions. And we’ll take a tour through animal life past and present to investigate the reasons behind the repeated evolution of beaks among dinosaurs and beyond.
In the news: Life on Mars, ancient sharks, mammoth microbes, and ant-eaters.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:07:00
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:42:40
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:38:25
Patron question: 02:21:50
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent
And get 25% off the first box with code descent25
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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Episode 226 - Dodos
Dodos are probably the single most famous case of recent human-induced extinction. First documented in the late 1500s and extinct within a century, dodos have become a global reminder of the devastating potential of human activity. This episode, we review the brief history of human interactions with dodos, and we explore what recent research and fossil evidence has taught us about these birds and their closest relatives.
In the news: Cretaceous crocs, extra-spiky dinosaurs, turtles of the sea, and cave fish evolution.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:45
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:33:10
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:06:00
Patron question: 01:56:50
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent
And get 25% off the first box with code descent25
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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Episode 225 - Forests
Forests are among the most widespread and diverse biomes on our planet. This episode, we’re joined by our favorite paleobotanist, Dr. Aly Baumgartner, to explore what defines a forest, how these habitats function, and how they differ around the globe. Then, we’ll take a trip into the past to discuss how paleontologists study ancient forests and how these biomes have changed over hundreds of millions of years.
In the news: ocean sediments, early penguins, island foxes, Canadian dragonflies, and ancient deer.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:06:00
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:37:30
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:47:10
Patron question: 02:48:35
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Listen to more Plants with Aly on Leaf it to Us!
https://commondescentpodcast.com/leaf-it-to-us/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent
And get 25% off the first box with code descent25
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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Episode 224 - Bipedalism
Most vertebrate animals on land get around on all fours, but some of us have committed to two-legged locomotion. This episode, we explore the various ways animals have evolved bipedalism and the many benefits that come with it. We’ll also take a look at how we identify bipedal animals in the fossil record, and we’ll zoom in on the evolutionary story behind Earth history’s most successful bipeds.
In the news: potato origins, trilobite legs, bone worm burrows, and australopithecine sexes.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:07:35
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:35:15
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:10:50
Patron question: 02:05:55
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent
And get 25% off the first box with code descent25
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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!
Canada - english