Episode 12 - The Geologic Time Scale

In the news: the shapes of bird eggs, very ancient amphibians, more dinosaur faces, and the history of hippos.

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.   

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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Episode 11 - Antarctica

In the news: a baby bird in amber, ancient elephant genetics, surprisingly early humans, and the formation of a famous dinosaur site.

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.

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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…But We Digress - Tyrannosaur Skin (and Feathers?)

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

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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Episode 10 - 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!

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!

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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Episode 9 - 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!

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!

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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Episode 8 - 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!

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.

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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Episode 7 - Primates

In the news: an ancient dinosaur-cousin, bats with diverse diets, and ancient predator injuries.

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.

Ethan’s on Twitter! @fulwoodomys

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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Episode 6 – Evolution of Flight

In the news: Dinosaur footprints; tyrannosaur faces; life in a crater; and a beautiful ancient bird.

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?

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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…But We Digress - Ornithoscelida

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-real-anymore/520338/

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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Episode 5 - The K-Pg Extinction (the “Dinosaur Extinction”)

In the news: the first fish on land, the earliest sharks, some really old croc eggs, and some really really old plants!

In this episode, we discuss one of the most famously devastating events in Earth history – the mass extinction that ended the Age of Dinosaurs.

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The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
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