Silver Screen Science - One Million Years B.C. (1966)

More from The Common Descent Podcast All episodes →

1. 

   E371 · 24 May 2026 · 2 hr 28 min

   Episode 244 - Sea Turtles

   Most modern turtles are pretty good in the water, but only some are truly ocean-dwellers. This episode, we explore the unique and diverse lifestyles and anatomy of modern sea turtles, then we take a tour of turtles through time, visiting the surprising number of ancient lineages that have taken to the seas and the surprising forms some of them have taken. In the news: twisted jaws, early centipedes, Ediacaran microbes, and Neanderthal teeth Time markers:Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00News: 00:04:45Main discussion, Part 1: 00:43:50Main discussion, Part 2: 01:30:10Patron question: 02:14:60…

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   E370 · 10 May 2026 · 2 hr 23 min

   Episode 243 - Burrowers

   A lot of life on Earth happens underground. This episode, we sample the species that have taken to a life of digging in the dirt – and elsewhere – why they do it and what physical adaptations help them along the way. Then, we’ll take a tour of burrows in the fossil record and explore what clues paleontologists can use to determine which ancient critter constructed a given burrow. In the news: malaria history, false octopus, pterosaur tracks, and giant octopus. Time markers:Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00News: 00:05:55Main discussion, Part 1: 00:45:05Main discussion, Part 2: 01:17:55Patron…

3. 

   E369 · 1 May 2026 · 2 min

   Leaf it to Us Season 2 Trailer

   Leaf it to Us Season 2 is coming! Episode 1 drops on May 7th! You can find Leaf it to Us on any podcast platform! Consider supporting Leaf it to Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod And connect with the community in these places: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod The Leaf it to Us theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/

4. 

   E368 · 30 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 12 min

   Silver Screen Science - The Valley of Gwangi (1969)

   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’re wrapping things up with a tale of cowboys and dinosaurs in The Valley of Gwangi! 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…

5. 

   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…

6. 

   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…

7. 

   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:…

8. 

   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…

9. 

   E362 · 29 Mar 2026 · 2 hr 42 min

   Episode 240 - Terror Birds

   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:…

10. 

    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:…