The Common Descent Podcast

Around six million years ago, the Mediterranean Sea dried up, wreaking havoc with local marine life and leaving a dramatic legacy in the geologic record in the form of massive salt deposits. This episode, we’ll explore the evidence for this event, why it happened, how it ended, and the impact it left in the fossil record. In the news: marine crocs, giant cicadas, giant tadpoles, and drowning bats. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:04:25 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:42:35 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:09:35 Patron question: 02:02:15 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 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 [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0]

Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication. This time, we’re hanging out with Amy and Meaghan from Weird & Dead! Find Weird & Dead here: www.weirdanddead.com [http://www.weirdanddead.com] www.patreon.com/WeirdandDeadPodcast [http://www.patreon.com/WeirdandDeadPodcast] More from Amy and Meaghan: www.meaghanwetherell.com [http://www.meaghanwetherell.com] www.geopetalfabric.com [http://www.geopetalfabric.com]  https://dinosaurtrips.com/all-women-jurassic-coast/ [https://dinosaurtrips.com/all-women-jurassic-coast/] Connect with Common Descent: https://linktr.ee/common_descent [https://linktr.ee/common_descent] Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast [https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast] Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/ We’re an Audible Affiliate Partner! Use this link for a 30-day free trial to Audible: https://www.audibletrial.com/CommonDescent The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org [http://ocremix.org].

Welcome … to Cute-E! Every October during Spook-E, we have fun speculatively evolving monsters from myths and stories, but we leave out the cuddlier side of fiction. In Cute-E, we’re choosing kinder creatures and discussing 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 Tiny Monsters. This episode, we look at a local legend. How might real-world evolution result in elusive and mysterious rabbits with antlers? Our creatures to create this time: Jackalopes. Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Spook-E discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev [https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev] Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast [https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast] More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent [https://linktr.ee/common_descent] Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/ We’re an Audible Affiliate Partner! Use this link for a 30-day free trial to Audible: https://www.audibletrial.com/CommonDescent The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Mice, rats, beavers, and more! Rodents are some of the most diverse and successful mammals on the planet. This episode, we discuss what traits make rodents special, and we explore their incredible living diversity. Then we’ll take a trip to the past to investigate early rodent evolution, some highlights of their fossil record, and some of their ancient competitors. In the news: Arthropleura’s head, raptorial birds, dinosaur eggs, and evolution education. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:50 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:38:25 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:28:15 Patron question: 02:14:25 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 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 [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0]

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. October is Spook-E Season on Common Descent! Each episode, we pick monsters from fiction and fable and ponder 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 Tiny Monsters. This episode, there’s trouble afoot. How could biological processes generate ornery little fiends with gruesome headgear? Our creatures to create this time: Redcaps. Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Spook-E discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev [https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev] Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast [https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast] More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent [https://linktr.ee/common_descent] Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/ [https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/] We’re an Audible Affiliate Partner! Use this link for a 30-day free trial to Audible: https://www.audibletrial.com/CommonDescent [https://www.audibletrial.com/CommonDescent] The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org [http://ocremix.org].