Episode notes
For most of the Cenozoic Era, South America was home to an incredible group of predatory birds called phorusrhacids, which included some of the largest carnivorous birds of all time. With their giant axe-like beaks and powerful clawed legs, these giants have gained the nickname “terror birds.” This episode, we explore what makes these birds unique, how they varied across their diversity, and what exactly they were doing with all those terrifying tools. In the news: a bitten plesiosaur, wildflower adaptation, a new croc, and dinosaur parents. Time markers:Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00News:…
Podcast
The Common Descent Podcast
Common Descent · Tech & Science · English
Join David and Will as they explore the paleontologists’ perspective on various topics in life and earth history. Each episode features a main discussion on a topic requested by the listeners, presented as a lighthearted and educational conversation about fossils, evolution, deep time, and more. B
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E367 · 26 Apr 2026 · 2 hr 30 min
Episode 242 - Fire
Earth is a very flammable world. The combination of heat, oxygen, and burnable plants makes fire a constant feature of our planet. Many modern ecosystems thrive in the presence of fire, and lots of plant and animal species have adapted to avoid or take advantage of the flames. This episode, we explore the diverse topic of fire ecology, and we take a tour through the deep history of fire on Earth. In the news: Triassic crocs, anglerfish lures, behavior and evolution, and synapsid babies. Time markers:Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00News: 00:06:30Main discussion, Part 1: 00:48:25Main…
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E366 · 23 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
Silver Screen Science - One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore science on the big screen and beyond. This year, we’re taking a tour through cinematic history with Old School Dinosaurs! This episode, we visit a classic of mid-century caveman-versus-dinosaur cinema, with One Million Years B.C. Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/ Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species”…
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E365 · 16 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
Silver Screen Science - Dinosaur Shorts (Gertie, Slumber Mountain, Fantasia)
Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore science on the big screen and beyond. This year, we’re taking a tour through cinematic history with Old School Dinosaurs! This episode, we compile and compare a handful of dino-themed short films from the early days of dinosaur movies: Gertie the Dinosaur, The Ghost of Slumber Mountain, and the Rite of Spring segment from Disney’s Fantasia. Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/ Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Lots more…
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E364 · 12 Apr 2026 · 2 hr 20 min
Episode 241 - Digestion
The world is full of food, but in order to make the most of it, living organisms need to be able to break it down and extract the useful nutrients. This episode, we explore the fundamental process of digestion and the many, many ways that life has adapted this process to various diets. And we’ll take a look at what the fossil record has to tell us about ancient diets and the evolutionary history of digestive systems. In the news: predator bites, coelacanth lungs, Cambrian claws, and squid evolution. Time markers:Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00News: 00:05:55Main discussion, Part 1:…
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E363 · 9 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Silver Screen Science - The Lost World (1925)
Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore science on the big screen and beyond. This year, we’re taking a tour through cinematic history with Old School Dinosaurs! This episode, we start things off with the great grand-daddy of dinosaur movies: The Lost World (1925). Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/ Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by…
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E361 · 15 Mar 2026 · 2 hr 14 min
Episode 239 - Nocturnality
Creatures of the night! The world is a different place in the dark, and a whole array of organisms have adapted to being most active outside of daytime hours. This episode, we’ll explore the regular traits that allow nocturnal animals to get by, we’ll discuss some of the ways nocturnal evolution has shaped living species, and we’ll investigate which – if any – of these traits we can identify in the fossil record. In the news: snake hormones, Australian amphibians, ancient microbes, and baby dinosaurs. Time markers:Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00News: 00:07:25Main discussion, Part 1:…
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E355 · 7 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Pok-É – Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza
Welcome ... to Pok-É! This year is the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, so we’re picking some of our favorite Legendary Pokémon and speculating upon how they – or something like them – might evolve in real life, pulling inspiration from species throughout our planet’s history! This episode, we take on the super-ancient Pokémon of Hoenn. How could natural selection result in masters of the sea, land, and sky embroiled in an endless feud? Our creatures to create this time: Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza. Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion!…
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E359 · 3 Mar 2026 · 2 hr 24 min
Patron Mini-Episode Compilation #7
One of the benefits our Patrons can receive is a personalized mini-episode on an animal of their choice! Every now and then, we throw them together into a compilation for all to enjoy! As always, an enormous thanks to all of our wonderful Patrons! Time markers:Basal Ornithopods for Aaron: 00:02:00Orangutans for Justin: 00:22:30Tardigrades for Jeff: 00:54:25Trilobites for Timpaxew: 01:16:55Rauisuchians for Ryan: 01:36:45Ravens for Bogdraw: 01:56:15 Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Got a topic you want to hear…
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E360 · 1 Mar 2026 · 2 hr 36 min
Episode 238 - Osteoderms (Skin Bones)
Some bones are only skin deep! In many species of reptiles, mammals, and amphibians, bones called osteoderms develop within the skin, serving as body armor, additional muscular support, display features, or any number of other functions. This episode, we explore the extraordinary diversity of osteoderm anatomy, we take a tour through the many and varied osteoderms of Earth history, and we investigate a long list of hypothesized functions for these unusual bones. In the news: reptile skin, dinosaur quills, dinosaur bites, and cannibal snakes. Time markers:Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00News:…
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E354 · 28 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Pok-É – Koraidon and Miraidon
Welcome ... to Pok-É! This year is the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, so we’re picking some of our favorite Legendary Pokémon and speculating upon how they – or something like them – might evolve in real life, pulling inspiration from species throughout our planet’s history! This episode, we take a tour of the Paradox Pokémon. Where on the tree of life could we find a pair of dragons built for battle and all-terrain travel? Our creatures to create this time: Koraidon and Miraidon. Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev Join…
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