What On Earth is Evolution?!

What On Earth is Evolution?!

Evolution is everywhere in science and almost nowhere in popular culture is it explained clearly. In this episode of What On Earth?!, we dive into some of the biggest misconceptions about evolution and separate the science from the myths. Is evolution “just a theory”? Did humans really evolve from monkeys? Is evolution completely random? And does evolution explain how life first began? These are questions many people have heard, but the answers are often far more interesting than the misconceptions themselves. We break down what evolution actually means in biology, explain how natural selection works, and explore what scientists really mean when they use the word theory. Along the way, we talk about fossils, common ancestry, adaptation, and why evolution is one of the best-supported ideas in all of science. This episode is not a debate. It’s a guide to understanding the science in a clear, accessible way. Whether you’re completely new to evolution or just want a better grasp of what the theory actually says, this episode is for you. If you’ve ever heard conflicting claims about evolution and wondered what the science really is, this episode of What On Earth?! is the perfect place to start.

Episode 8 What on Earth Is Up with the Moon?!

In this episode of What on Earth?!, we’re taking you on a journey to our closest celestial neighbor, the Moon.  Please remember to follow, like and share! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatonearth_podcast?igsh=Y3MwbjkyNjgwcjVy [https://www.instagram.com/whatonearth_podcast?igsh=Y3MwbjkyNjgwcjVy]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fa7FsnQku/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fa7FsnQku/] It may look calm and comforting in the night sky, but beneath that peaceful glow lies a history shaped by extreme violence, molten oceans, and relentless impacts. Together, we explore why scientists are so fascinated by the Moon and how it acts as a time capsule for the early Solar System. From bright highlands to dark volcanic plains — known as maria — we break down what you actually see when you look up at the night sky. We also dive into explosive volcanic activity, hidden lava flows (cryptomaria), and what lunar craters can tell us about ancient asteroid bombardments. We touch on still ongoing debates in planetary science: the Late Heavy Bombardment, what caused it, when it happened, and whether it even existed as a single event. Plus, we revisit the Apollo missions, talk about lunar samples (yes, real Moon rocks!), and look ahead to the future with upcoming missions like the Artemis program. So grab your tea, get cozy, and join us for a deep dive into the Moon — a world that’s far from quiet. Stay curious and keep asking yourself: What on Earth is going on here?!

Episode 7.2 - What on (Flat) Earth?!

🎧 Flat Earth, Conspiracies & How Our Brain Tricks Us (Part 2) Please remember to follow, like and share! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatonearth_podcast?igsh=Y3MwbjkyNjgwcjVy [https://www.instagram.com/whatonearth_podcast?igsh=Y3MwbjkyNjgwcjVy]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fa7FsnQku/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fa7FsnQku/] Sources YouGov, 2018. Most flat earthers consider themselves very religious [https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/20510-most-flat-earthers-consider-themselves-religious] Psychology of conspiratorial mind study: Bowes, Shauna & Costello, Thomas & Tasimi, Arber. (2023). The Conspiratorial Mind: A Meta-Analytic Review of Motivational and Personological Correlates. Psychological Bulletin. 149. 259-293. 10.1037/bul0000392. The Conspiratorial Mind: A Meta-Analytic Review of Motivational and Personological Correlates [https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-bul0000392.pdf] YouTube video of Professor Dave Explains: https://youtu.be/h0H-amOti_o?si=yxxwBDu1gpLw-g8Z "You are not so smart" Podcast episode 299 - Debunkbot: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6aWubjGqJeWXAXZXy831eR?si=YCvR0xYITFKkAPP90X92rw [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6aWubjGqJeWXAXZXy831eR?si=FoEhWCJDReCC_P1lD9LoLA&nd=1&dlsi=635d294eda5e4243] Debunkbot study: Thomas H. Costello et al. ,Durably reducing conspiracy beliefs through dialogues with AI.Science385,eadq1814(2024).DOI:10.1126/science.adq1814 Durably reducing conspiracy beliefs through dialogues with AI | Science [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq1814] Debunkbot: DebunkBot | Conspiracies [https://debunkbot.com/survey/_/home] In Part 2 of What on Earth, we move beyond Flat Earth itself and into something even more fascinating: how our brain works - and why conspiracy theories can feel so convincing. We start with a simple but uncomfortable idea: could anyone fall for conspiracy thinking? From there, we explore the psychology behind it - and what makes certain explanations so appealing, even when they don’t hold up scientifically. We talk about cognitive biases like confirmation bias and the Dunning–Kruger effect, and how confidence can sometimes be mistaken for expertise. Along the way, we break down how scientific thinking actually works - from observations and hypotheses to experiments and theories - and why evidence matters more than intuition. We also touch on an important nuance: not every conspiracy is false. History has shown us real examples that were later confirmed. But the key difference is evidence - and how we evaluate it. This episode is part psychology, part science, and part understanding how we make sense of the world - especially when things feel uncertain or complex. So grab your favorite mug ☕ (we definitely did), and join us as we unpack how belief, bias, and evidence collide. 🎙️ Listen now on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts ✨ Stay curious and keep asking yourself… What on Earth?!

Episode 7.1 - What on (Flat) Earth?!

Flat Earth, Conspiracies & the Science of Belief Please remember to follow, like and share! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatonearth_podcast?igsh=Y3MwbjkyNjgwcjVy [https://www.instagram.com/whatonearth_podcast?igsh=Y3MwbjkyNjgwcjVy]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fa7FsnQku/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fa7FsnQku/] In this episode of What on Earth, we take on one of the most persistent and fascinating conspiracy theories out there: Flat Earth. We start with a simple question: what on Earth makes people believe the Earth is flat? We explore how long humanity has known that Earth is a sphere, from ancient Greek observations to early measurements of Earth’s circumference, and why, despite this, Flat Earth ideas still exist today. It turns out the story isn’t just about science, but about trust, perception, and how we process information. This episode is part science, and part navigating the strange (and sometimes entertaining) ways we try to make sense of reality. So grab your favorite mug - we definitely did - and join us for a deep dive into facts, beliefs, and everything in between. Stay curious and keep asking yourself… What on Earth?!

Episode 6 - What on Earth is geological time?! - Proterozoic & Paleozoic

Please remember to follow, like and share! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatonearth_podcast?igsh=Y3MwbjkyNjgwcjVy [https://www.instagram.com/whatonearth_podcast?igsh=Y3MwbjkyNjgwcjVy]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fa7FsnQku/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fa7FsnQku/] In this episode of What On Earth?!, we’re diving into geological time. This is Part 1. Ever wondered how scientists make sense of 4.6 billion years of Earth history? How do you even begin to divide that into something understandable? And why do some chapters of Earth’s past end so dramatically? We’re going all the way back to the Precambrian and the Paleozoic, a time when Earth was a very different place. We start in the Precambrian, where life is tiny, the atmosphere is changing, and the planet is still forming into the layered, dynamic system we know today. Think rising oxygen, shifting supercontinents, and even moments where ice may have covered almost the entire globe. Then we move into the Paleozoic, where life really starts to get interesting. Oceans fill with bizarre creatures, early fish begin to appear, and for the first time ever, life starts making the move onto land. Plants, insects, and eventually vertebrates begin exploring a completely new world. Along the way, we touch on moving continents, changing climates, and the big events that shape life on Earth, including one of the most dramatic mass extinctions in our planet’s history. If you like big stories, strange lifeforms, and understanding how our planet became what it is today, this episode is for you.