Evolution Talk

I have some exciting news about the show.

In addition to this podcast, which will continue with the help of our patrons at Patreon, I am going to produce a YouTube video show. This won?t be the audio from the podcast. Instead, it will be an extension of the podcast as a platform for me to continue to educate folks about evolution by natural selection.

I?ll host both the video channel and the podcast. The channel will introduce new topics and cover some familiar ground in different ways.

Evolution Talk Youtube Channel

Patreon

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

In this episode, we continue our exploration into the realm of evolutionary psychiatry, a field that seeks to understand the ancient roots of our modern mental health challenges. Are mental disorders "glitches" in our evolutionary programming, where ancient survival strategies may not align with contemporary societal demands?

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

Music in this Episode

Memory Wind by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Submerging Green by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Poor Wayfaring Stranger by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Climbing the Mountain by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Let's dive deep into the fascinating world of Evolutionary Psychiatry, building on our previous exploration of Evolutionary Psychology (from 100 episodes ago!).

In that episode we compared the brain to an information processing device shaped by eons of evolution? Today, we venture further from the shore, exploring how our mental software, which evolved for ancient challenges, copes in our modern world. We'll unravel the mysteries of mental disorders through the evolutionary lens, questioning why traits beneficial in our past might be problematic today. 

 

Music in this Episode

Memory Wind by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Submerging Green by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Poor Wayfaring Stranger by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Climbing the Mountain by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

 

The "Evolution Talk" podcast needs your help! I have some great ideas for the show and for continuing to bring you free content. The truth is that the expense of keeping the show active and producing new episodes has become prohibitive.   I?ve researched different funding options, including Kickstarter, sponsorships, and grants for science education.   I?ve settled on a Patreon. This will enable me to plan for the next season.   More information about how you can help support the show is at EvolutionTalk.com/Support . You can also go directly to Patreon.   In the meantime, there are still over 140 episodes available for your enjoyment!   I appreciate you for all of your support over the years.   Thank you! Rick

Sagan once pondered, "How did the molecules of life arise?" This question, echoing through the annals of scientific history, brings us to today's episode. We've long understood the mechanics of evolution, but the origin of life itself remains a captivating mystery. From Darwin's elegant theory of natural selection to the curious idea of Spontaneous Generation, we'll dive deep into the evolution of thought on life's beginnings. We'll also unravel the groundbreaking Miller-Urey experiment, which mimicked Earth's early conditions to create organic molecules. 

 

Music in this Episode

Orchestral Rise & Confusion by Tim Kulig, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11275-orchestral-rise-confusion, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Under The Surface by Tim Kulig, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10639-under-the-surface, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Gamma 135 175 Water Meditations by Tim Kulig, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10713-gamma-135-175-water-meditations, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Psychic Cube by Tim Kulig, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11767-psychic-cube, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Simple Space Score by Tim Kulig, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8867-simple-space-score, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Scorpion Standoff by Tim Kulig, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8471-scorpion-standoff, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Blue Scorpion by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3451-blue-scorpion, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Our story starts with cells.  Not our cells but the cells of our closest relatives.  The great apes. Within the nucleus of their cells the great apes have 24 chromosome pairs.  We have 23 pairs.  If we share a common ancestor, what happened to the missing chromosomes?

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Firefly by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Crusty Lily by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Horn Haze by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Poof by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Vestigial features and atavistic traits are all evidence of our past.  They are glimpses into a species distant past. We have nature and evolution by natural selection to thank for it. But nature?s not perfect.  It makes mistakes.  

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Epiphany by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Floating by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Chimera by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Curious Process by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Tentative Cloud by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

When it comes to personal IDs, we have many.  There?s your driver?s license, passport, online username, among other human-made forms of proving who you are.  Then there are those that nature gave you that?s yours and yours alone.  Like your DNA. And then there are your fingerprints.  Other than leaving incriminating evidence behind if you?ve committed a crime and weren't careful enough to wipe them away or wear gloves, what are fingerprints good for?

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Swingland by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6625-swingland, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Cinematic Suspense Series Episode 009 by Sascha Ende, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8224-cinematic-suspense-series-episode-009, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Ambient Bongos by Alexander Nakarada, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4726-ambient-bongos, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The Inspector by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9176-the-inspector, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Blue Sky U Liar 106 by Doudoo, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11436-blue-sky-u-liar-106, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Attics aren?t the only places you?ll find old secrets from the past, begging to be rediscovered or let out. You have them in you as well. I?m not talking about the the type of secrets you keep to yourself and only tell close friends. I?m talking about those like the ones you?ll find in old attics.  Secrets you don't even know are there.  These secrets are locked in your DNA. Every once in a while, those secrets come back to haunt us.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Swingland by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6625-swingland, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Cinematic Suspense Series Episode 009 by Sascha Ende, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8224-cinematic-suspense-series-episode-009, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Ambient Bongos by Alexander Nakarada, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4726-ambient-bongos, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The Inspector by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9176-the-inspector, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Blue Sky U Liar 106 by Doudoo, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11436-blue-sky-u-liar-106, Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Ants have mastered the art of cooperation.  They have highly organized social structures, caste systems, and with everything they do, they do for the colony.  They are in a sense, a superorganism with each ant contributing to benefit of colony, like cells in a functioning body.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Winjammer by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Mute Groove by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Memory Wind by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Evolution by natural selection is not perfect, nor does it strive to be.  It doesn't strive to be anything at all.  An adaptation that is beneficial under one set of circumstances may be a detriment under another. There are also some wonderful by products - like reading and writing.  Did we evolve to read and write? Once again, imperfection reigns.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Gathering by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Ideas by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com In And Out by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Bright White by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Go Little Car by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

If you've ever heard the phrase "play possum", you may know it means to feign death. It's real thing. Possums do it, as do sharks, ants, and a multitude of other animals. It's a defense mechanisms shaped by evolution.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Go Little Car by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Dinky by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Arp Arc by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com Ant Party by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

With the start of a new season of episodes, I thought it appropriate to revisit why I created this podcast in the first place with the question - "Why Teach Evolution?"

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Kingston Town by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Breezin by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Wook by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Mute Groove by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

It's time for a summer break.  There will be some exciting new video content coming up as well.  You can keep up to date on all that is happening at Evolutiontalk.com !  

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

The Homo Naledi have been intriguing scientists since their discovery in 2013, challenging our understanding of early human life. In this episode, we explore the burning question: how did they end up in the incredibly difficult-to-reach Dinaledi chamber? From the possibility of using fire to lighting their way to the evidence of intentional burial, we are slowly uncovering the secrets Homo Naledi left behind. We delve into their potential cognitive abilities, including abstract thinking and symbolic thought, and what their burial rituals could mean about their understanding of mortality.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Whimsy Groove by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4623-whimsy-groove, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Nightdreams by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4132-nightdreams, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Crowd Hammer by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4983-crowd-hammer, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Dive into the mysterious world of Batesian mimicry, where harmless creatures masquerade as dangerous ones to survive. Journey with us from Britain?s south coast, where hoverflies fool predators with wasp-like outfits, to the deceptive bands of the scarlet kingsnake in southeastern US. Marvel at the daytime antics of clearwing moths, mistaken for bees, and question the taste of the Viceroy butterfly, a monarch look-alike. As the lines between disguise and reality blur, we explore the intriguing dance of adaptation and survival in the animal kingdom. It?s nature?s never-ending Halloween party.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Halloween Atmosphere 2018 by Sascha Ende, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3234-halloween-atmosphere-2018, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Halloween Ghost Of The Dead Ballerina by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8269-halloween-ghost-of-the-dead-ballerina, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Halloween Theme 1 by Alexander Nakarada, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4735-halloween-theme-1, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Halloween Atmosphere by Sascha Ende, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/87-halloween-atmosphere, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Halloween Haunted House by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6615-halloween-haunted-house, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

When a vibrant caravan of travelers arrives with new foods, traditions, and stories, a sleepy hamlet's culinary landscape is forever altered. We explore how this 'mixing of recipes' changes the DNA menu of a population, much like the newfound dishes in Heritage Hamlet. Here's to a feast for both your mind and your curiosity.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Le Baguette by Alexander Nakarada, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4784-le-baguette, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Discover "Fossils, Feuds, and Fantastical Creatures: The Cope and Marsh Saga." Journey back to 1863 Berlin, where Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh kickstart a rivalry for the ages. Originally friends, their bond fractures at a New Jersey fossil quarry, escalating into a public spat that seizes the paleontological world. Tune in for this thrilling ride into history, dinosaurs, and the power of human rivalry.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Meanwhile in Bavaria by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4028-meanwhile-in-bavaria. License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summer Swing 2018 by Sascha Ende, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3160-summer-swing-2018, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Tick Tock Tick Tock Quarantine Time by WinnieTheMoog, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6145-tick-tock-tick-tock-quarantine-time, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Jazzy Comping 1 by Agnese Valmaggia, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7330-jazzy-comping-1, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Jazzi 3 by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8069-jazzi-3, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

You can get 25% off the Evolution Talk book at Amazon!  The discount is good until June 8th.  If you buy one let me know what you think!

Have a great week!

Rick

Link to Evolution Talk book: https://amzn.to/3MJTJ9h

From the quiet roads of New Hampshire, where snapping turtles are more common than lizards, to the depths of our evolutionary past, we'll grapple with the idea that we may still carry a piece of our reptilian ancestors within us. But don't be too quick to believe popular pop-psychology. We'll explore what the Triune Brain model tells us about our so-called "reptilian brain" and how it shapes our instinctual responses. We'll question if there's a lurking Allosaurus within our minds or if it's just an oversimplification of a complex organ.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Frogs by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Go Little Car by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Twinkle Toes by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Using the metaphor of a simple beat evolving into a complex symphony, we explore how small-scale genetic changes within populations give rise to new species. From microevolution to macroevolution. Here, the role of natural selection is handed over to the discerning ears of different audiences to select the music that survives and evolves. From a simple beat to a grand symphony, we trace the evolution of life.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Jazzi by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6469-jazzi, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Road Trip by Frank Schroeter, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9761-road-trip, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Trickster by Phat Sounds, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10864-trickster, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Midsummer's Night In The Woods by Justin Allan Arnold, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10882-midsummers-night-in-the-woods, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

We Love Punk Rock by WinnieTheMoog, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6369-we-love-punk-rock, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summer Swing 2018 by Sascha Ende, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3160-summer-swing-2018, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

In this episode, the focus is on macroevolution, which deals with larger scale evolutionary changes compared to microevolution. Macroevolutionary changes can give rise to new species, and its results can be seen in the fossil record. By piecing together fossils, researchers can observe macroevolutionary patterns, predict transitional organisms, and even locate potential fossil sites. Whales provide a compelling look at macroevolution, as their evolution from land-dwelling mammals to aquatic giants is documented in the fossil record. The journey of whales, from the wolf-sized Pakicetus to the fully aquatic Basilosaurus, showcases the power of macroevolution.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

The constant dance of microevolution is driven by alleles, different versions of genes that determine traits. Sexual reproduction results in organisms inheriting a unique combination of genetic material from both parents, creating genetic diversity within a population. New alleles can appear through mutations or gene flow between populations.

The dance of alleles will continue, introducing new traits and variations in the ongoing story of evolution.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

In 2015,a spelunker named Joachim Kreiselmaier discovered a troglobite, a species that lives in underground environments, in the Danube-Aach cave system in South Germany. This small, pale fish had an elongated body, large nostrils, and minuscule, non-functional eyes. It was the first species of cave fish found in Europe and was related to loaches from the nearby Danube River. These cave fish lost their eyesight and pigmentation not because they stopped needing them, but due to evolution by natural selection. 

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

On September 15, 1835, the Galapagos Islands welcomed the arrival of a ship that had traversed South America, offering a strikingly different landscape. The vessel, HMS Beagle, still had just over a year before it would return to England. Aboard the ship was a young naturalist named Charles Darwin, who was unaware that his brief five-week exploration of the Galapagos Archipelago would ultimately inspire him to pen a world-altering book. This work would revolutionize our comprehension of the origins and diversity of the countless species that have existed and continue to exist on Earth.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

It can be straightforward to confuse facts and theories, but they remain distinct entities. Asserting that evolutoion by natural selection is not a fact does not diminish its significance as a theoretical framework. The theory is founded on empirical evidence and provides a deeper understanding of the subject matter.  Scientific theories evolve over time as new evidence and discoveries emerge. They continue to be refined and expanded as our knowledge of the natural world grows.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

Our diet has a direct impact on our quality of life, and this fact is not new. Throughout the evolution of our species, food availability and our diet have been influential factors. The Hominin River has provided insights into the dietary habits of our predecessors and how it affected their brain size and ability to walk on two legs. The transition from herbivores to omnivores, as well as learning how to cook food, caused a reduction in teeth size and gut size. Despite not documenting their meals or counting calories, our ancient hominin ancestors were keen on experimenting with what they ate. Their primary concern was avoiding predators, so we rely on archaeological findings to understand their diet.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

Our journey down the Hominin River in search of our ancestors and the evolution of our species has been extensive. Homo sapiens began exploring the world 300,000 years ago, and anatomically modern humans appeared 200,000 years ago. We, also known as Homosapiens sapiens, are the last surviving species of the Hominin family. However, as we speed along the river, we may overlook a significant change - the river is now narrower, with its tributaries gone. This river, which has been around for over 6 million years, may be nearing its end sooner than we anticipate. With millions of years behind us, we might only have a few centuries left to navigate.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Denouement by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Ghost by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Human Survivor by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

The discovery of a Homo erectus skull in 2005, known as Skull 5, marked a significant archaeological find. Among the five skulls found, estimated to be approximately 1.8 million years old, Skull 5 stands out as the most complete hominin skull ever uncovered. Remarkably, it had remained hidden within a cave for nearly two million years before its discovery.

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

River Fire by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4294-river-fire, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Slow Heat by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4373-slow-heat, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Allada by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4981-allada, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Rite of Passage by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4291-rite-of-passage, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In 1959, a significant event took place when teeth were discovered at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. These teeth were identified as belonging to a hominin species known as Homo habilis, which for decades held a special place as the first hominin to be given the title of Homo and considered as our earliest Homo ancestor. However, as more evidence and research emerge, the question arises: is Homo habilis truly the first Homo species, or is there more to the story?

Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call your local bookstore and ask them to order a copy.

 

Music in this Episode

Infados by Kevin MacLeod. Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3914-infados, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Artifact by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3382-artifact, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Accralate by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3336-accralate, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Drums of the Deep by Kevin MacLeod, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3681-drums-of-the-deep, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

 

Thomas Plummer, an archaeologist, had received information about the discovery of stone tools on the Homa Peninsula hillsides in Kenya. In an attempt to gain more knowledge, he initiated an excavation. However, instead of discovering more stone tools, he and his team came across numerous fossils of various animals such as crocodiles, antelopes, horses, and hippos. The fossils were accompanied by stone tools. But who made them?

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For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com

Music:

Criminals (DECISION) by Sascha Ende, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/248-criminals-decision, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Lurking Sloth by Alexander Nakarada, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4785-lurking-sloth, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Until Then My Friend by Euan Ford, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8692-until-then-my-friend, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Blockbuster Atmosphere 5 (African Spirit) by Sascha Ende, Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/133-blockbuster-atmosphere-5-african-spirit, License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

We?ve come quite a long way along the Hominin River.  We?ve passed tributaries and navigated some pretty large bends.  On the way we?ve heard rumors about what was ahead.  A name actually.  You?ll recognize her name because she's been mentioned on this show more than once.  She?s perhaps the most famous ancestor(?) of all.

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Music in this Episode:

Ghost by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Pythagoras by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Gentle Chase by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Twine by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Clay by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Between 1992 and 1994, working in the Awash region of Ethiopia, the same region that Ardipithecus kadabba would be found a few years later, paleoanthropologist Tim White unearthed well over 100 specimens of something new.  

What was it?

 

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Music:

Caravan by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Bit Rio by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Gamma Ray by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Climbing the Mountain by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

Toboggan (Smooth Run) by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com

In the last couple of episodes we?ve met two early travellers along the Hominin River.  Today, we will meet yet another one.  This one lived approximately 5.5 million years ago.  It is know as Ardipithecus kadabba, and this is its story.

 

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We continue with our exploration into hominin history by introducing one who once walked the earth six million years ago - the Orrorin tugenensis. It was bipedal, a mix of ape-like and human-like traits, and may be a direct ancestor... of us!

 

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We begin our exploration into hominin history with an introduction to what is arguably the oldest hominin fossil yet found.  Does Sahelanthropus tchadensis represent our earliest hominin ancestor or is it something else? 

 

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When talking about our ancient anscestors the question often comes up over how we refer to them.  Are they hominins or hominids?  It's a good question and it depends on how it is being used and what "hominid" branch is being discussed.  

Over the next few episodes we'll be looking at some of those ancestors, so it's a good idea to address this terminology and what will be used going forward to avoid confusion.  It might also answer some questions!

 

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When did our ancestors descend from the trees and walk on two legs instead of four?  How exactly did bipedalism develop?  We have some ideas but that's all they are - ideas.  We may never know, but we can certainly have some fun hypothesizing!

 

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Our study of the Homo Naledi continues to surprise us.  In December 2022, Professor Lee Berger announced yet another insight into the mystery surrounding the presence of the Naledi in the Rising Star Cave System.

 

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In 1979 Stephen Jay Gould and genetecist Richard C. Lewontin presented the paper ?The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme?.  What do spandrels have to do with evolution and biology?  Sometimes, things are there simply because they are.

 

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In Part 4 of a 4 Part Series on "The Eclipse of Darwinism", we take a look at William Paley's watch analogy and how it evolved into another explanation for the abundance and intricacies of life around us. 

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In Part 3 of a 4 Part Series on "The Eclipse of Darwinism", we take a look at "Mutationism".  Can a new species evolve in a single step or is it a series of gradual, accumulated changes as Darwinian evolution suggests?

 

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In Part 2 of a 4 Part Series on "The Eclipse of Darwinism", we take a look at "Neo-Lamarkism" as proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamark.  Proponents hoped it would push Darwinian evolution aside as the principal force behind the evolution of species.

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After Charles Darwin's death, the period from the 1880s to the 1920s is known as "The Eclipse of Darwinism".  Coined by Julian Huxley, it was a time where alternative theories to explain evolution sought to push Natural Selection aside.

 

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In this continuation of the look at speciation we began in the last episode, we will tackle some more "not so obvious" causes.

 

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It's been awhile since we took a look at speciation and its causes.  In the first of two parts we'll jump right in with Allopatric speciation.

 

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For decades, ever since we first began to study and understand our cell?s biology and the coding sequences of DNA, we saw bits and pieces that didn?t seem to make sense.  Strings of DNA that didn?t appear to do anything at all. It appears, they do quite a lot.

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Written, Produced, & Narrated by: Rick Coste

In 1893, the German zoologist Wilhelm Haacke published  Design and Inheritance. In it, Haacke introduced the concept of orthogenesis.  According to Haacke, changes in organisms are directed toward perfection.  

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Written, Produced, & Narrated by: Rick Coste

Consider this episode a memorial to the millions of extinct animals that once walked the earth long before we inherited it.  Like fragments of novels and poems that have been found over the years, hinting at what might have been, we have fossils and shards of bones to tell us what once was.

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Written, Produced, & Narrated by: Rick Coste

Great idea don't spring out of a vacuum, but they do sometimes seem to.  In this episode we take a look at a few.

 

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Written, Produced, & Narrated by: Rick Coste