Not all fish are shaped, well, like fish. In this episode, we discuss the bizarre group of tube-mouthed, prehensile-tailed, mostly finless, bony-plated wonders: Seahorses
Every plant starts somewhere, and often that somewhere is a small, secure, sturdy container capable of protecting, nourishing, and carrying a plant embryo until it’s time to sprout. This episode, we discuss the biology, evolution, and incredible paleontological importance of Seeds.
Listen to Episode 134 on PodBean, YouTube, Spotify, or wherever and however you prefer!
Blood is nutritious, easy to digest, and not hard to come by, so it’s no surprise that thousands of animals around the world have evolved a taste for the stuff. This episode, we discuss the diversity, adaptations, and evolutionary history of Sanguivores.
Listen to Episode 133 on PodBean, YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you’ll enjoy it most!
None of us are alone. Each of our bodies has its own share of parasites, hitchhikers, and tiny helpers, and indeed, every ecosystem on Earth features integral examples of organisms living in close relationships. This episode, we discuss the diversity, deep history, and dramatic impact of Symbiosis.
Listen to Episode 132 on PodBean, YouTube, Spotify, or your podcast-player of choice!
They are two of the biggest names in the history of paleoanthropology and human evolution, and they’re one of history’s most impressive scientific duos. This episode, we discuss the science and stories of Mary and Louis Leakey.
Our guest this episode is Meredith Johnson, Communications Director at the Leakey Foundation and host of Origin Stories! Learn more here!
Listen to Episode 131 on PodBean, YouTube, Spotify, or your podcast-player of choice!
When molten rock finds a path to Earth’s surface, the result can include lava seeps, gas leaks, explosions of ash, the reshaping of landscapes, the alteration of the climate, the elimination of ecosystems, and perhaps even in certain cases, widespread extinction. This episode, we talk (at length) about the geological and biological impacts of Volcanoes.
Listen to Episode 130 on PodBean, YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you can sniff it out!
With every breath you take, you collect information about your surroundings. This amazing ability is shared across the animal kingdom (and beyond). In this episode, we discuss the diversity and evolutionary history of our Sense of Smell.
Known today for their large size and impressive horns, these animals have taken many forms over many millions of years. From horse-like runners to hippo-like waders to gargantuan behemoths, this episode we discuss the incredible evolutionary history of Rhinos.
We’re now taking questions for our End of the Year Q&A! Submit your question here! The form closes December 15th!
Far below the ocean surface, where light, heat, and food become scarce, there is a vast environment that supports strange organisms highly adapted for survival in this harsh underwater landscape. This episode, we discuss the mysteries, past and present, of the Deep Sea.
We’re now taking questions for our End of the Year Q&A! Submit your question here!
In the Upper Great Plains of the United States is a series of ancient sediments that have for more than a century been a premier source of information on the very end of the Age of Dinosaurs. This episode, we discuss the history, science, and significance of the Hell Creek Formation.
We’re now taking questions for our End of the Year Q&A! Submit your question here!
Communication is key among organisms. Various signals – sights, sounds, smells – can serve to warn, attract, or manipulate others. So it’s no surprise that many organisms have evolved to copy the signals of others for their own deceitful purposes. In this episode, we discuss the diversity and evolution of Mimicry.
This one family of plants can be found in nearly every environment on Earth, and yet their deep history is nearly entirely unknown to us. This episode, we discuss the diversity, evolution, and strangeness of Orchids.
The Common Descent Podcast 