The Common Descent Podcast

Hold onto your butts … in this episode, we celebrate the intersection of science and popular culture with a discussion about the biggest dinosaur movie of all time, what makes it unique, and the incredible effect it had on the real-life world of paleontology: Jurassic Park. In the news: a new Jurassic glider, Tasmanian stromatolites, the world’s longest dinosaur trackway, and a tool for tracking f...

This episode, we take a super up-close look at the tiniest components of the fossil record, the microscopic remains that are so essential to our understanding of earth history, and the field of study devoted to them: Micropaleontology. In the news: daytime mammals, unusual dinosaur teeth, the dinosaur family tree (again), and dead male mammoths. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News:...

There is no group of prehistoric creatures more iconic, more widely-studied, or more requested by our listeners, than the subject of this episode! This time, it's a brief introduction to Dinosaurs. In the news: colorful dinosaurs, the rise of big herbivores, an Indian ichthyosaur, and saber-tooth DNA. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:04:00 Main discussion: 00:29:00 Check out...

This episode, we’re taking a big step back at the concept that underlies everything we talk about on this podcast: the scientific method! Our discussion includes what exactly the method is, why we use it, and what can sometimes get lost in translation. In the news: fossilized salamander organs, dinosaur proteins (or not), the bizarre comb jellies, and fanged kangaroos. Time markers: Intro & Announ...

To coincide with Episode 19 of Common Descent, this is a compilation of voices, more than a dozen paleontologists sharing their varied perspectives on the subject of diversity, inclusivity, and inspiration in their favorite field of science. Big thanks to all who participated! Find Michelle at Femmes of STEM: https://www.femmesofstem.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/...

This is a listener-requested topic and a guest episode! We are joined by super-special guest Michelle Barboza-Ramirez of the Femmes of STEM podcast, who is here to help us explore the deep subject of Women in Paleontology. We talk about female scientists past and present, discuss the challenges they face, and reflect on the broad questions of diversity in the field of paleontology and other scienc...

In the second part of our exploration of our own evolutionary past, we focus in on one particular recent group of big-brained, bipedal hominins. We explore their incredible diversity, their clever creations, and the origins of a species that we know better than any other. In the news: Neanderthal plaque; very surprising footprints; our tiny mysterious cousins; and an ancient sugary secret. Time ma...

This time, by request, we discuss an ancient story so detailed, compelling, and important that we had to split it in two! In part one, we find our own place on the family tree of life, and trace the history and evolutionary innovations of our ancestors and cousins: the early hominins. In the news: four-flippered swimming; the life of a dodo; weird whale teeth; and the many possible paths of evolut...

In this episode, David tells tales of his trip to Calgary for this year’s SVP meeting: research presentations; meeting new people; paleo-field trips in Alberta; and more. If you’re into vertebrate paleontology, this is one of the biggest and more exciting events of the year! In the news: several hundred research projects presented by paleontologists from all over the world, who came together at th...

This episode, by request, we’re talking about one of our favorite groups of invertebrates! Specifically, invertebrates with big brains and squiggly arms - some with beautiful shells and others with incredible camouflage - and a fantastically rich fossil record stretching back over 500 million years: the cephalopods. In the news: a giant gets a name; a confusing early dinosaur; some really old ice;...

This episode, we’re talking mass extinction again! Last time, we touched on the event that ended the Age of Dinosaurs, but this time – by listener request! – we’re discussing the event that started it: patterns and potential causes of the end-Triassic mass extinction. In the news: a colorful armored giant; a surprise apex predator; epigenetics and variation; and some fast-evolving big-headed gecko...

This episode, we finally take the time to talk in detail about the dig site we mention more than any other, the site where we both spent many years: the Gray Fossil Site! We discuss the site’s discovery, ongoing work, ancient ecosystem, and some of our own experiences. In the news: the speed of T. rex, warm-blooded evolution, dinosaur sails, and the earliest Australians. Time markers: Intro & Anno...

And now for something completely different! Just how deep is Deep Time? Exactly how are important events arranged throughout our planet’s history? Which events are recent and which are ancient? In this special episode, we take a tour through Earth History, from beginning to end, one million years per second: a virtual trip through geologic time! Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 Tour T...

The episode comes to you from inside the fossil prep lab, where we explore what goes into cleaning, repairing, and generally making fossils ready for study. We are joined by our friend Shawn Haugrud, as well as two of his lab’s head preparators: Shayleigh Maden and Davis Gunnin! In the news: swimming strategies of plesiosaurs, surprise marine mass extinction, a bone-crushing Jurassic croc, and the...

This episode is about the history of the earth, and how we compile all that we know about the ancient past in the great Geologic Time Scale.    In the news: the shapes of bird eggs, very ancient amphibians, more dinosaur faces, and the history of hippos. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:03:00 Main discussion: 00:32:00 Patron announcements & question: 01:32:00 Check out our bl...

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 elephant genetics, surprisingly early humans, and the formation of a famous dinosaur site. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:02:3...

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 access the study itself here: http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/13/6/20170092 Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c...

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 got huge, the crunching jaws of T. rex, and the evolution of soldier bees! Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:30 Main discussi...

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 dinosaurs, a long-lost dino-baby, surprises from the human family tree, and snake fossils from our favorite fossil site! Time markers: Intro & Announcem...

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 scorpions, finding ancient DNA without fossils, climate change during the end-Pleistocene extinction, and (maybe) the oldest humans in North America! Time mar...

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 ancient predator injuries. Ethan’s on Twitter! @fulwoodomys Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:02:00 Main discussion: 00:25:00 Che...

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 ancient bird. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:02:30 Main discussion: 00:29:30 Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http...

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 more about the study here: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/03/dinosaur-family-tree-saurischia-ornithischia-childhood-shattered-what-is...

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 really old plants! Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:02:00 Main discussion: 00:30:00 Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: h...

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 & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:00 Main discussion: 00:31:30 Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow...