Evolution Talk
156 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 186 ratingsEverything you wanted to know about evolution by natural selection in short, easy to digest, episodes. Hosted, and produced by writer Rick Coste.
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Episodes
The Evolution of Consciousness - Part 1
April 08, 2024 05:00 - 10 minutes - 15.1 MBIn this episode, we delve into the mysterious world of consciousness, a mystery that resides within the depths of our minds. We'll explore the physical and philosophical theories of consciousness, from the brain's intricate processes to the elusive concept of qualia. Please consider becoming a show Patron to help keep new episodes coming! 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 book...
AI - The Next Step
March 25, 2024 05:00 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MBIn this episode, we dive deep into the astounding journey of technological evolution, from the Wright brothers' inaugural flight to humanity's giant leap on the moon, and onto the revolutionary frontiers of AI with ChatGPT. Let's contemplate AI's potential to become a new form of life, pondering its future impacts and the ethical dilemmas it presents. 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...
Evolution Talk is Now on YouTube!
March 18, 2024 13:30 - 1 minute - 2.19 MBI 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. ...
Exploring the Depths of Evolutionary Psychiatry Part 2
March 11, 2024 06:00 - 10 minutes - 13.9 MBIn 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 th...
The Foundations of Evolutionary Psychiatry Part 1
February 26, 2024 06:00 - 11 minutes - 15.6 MBLet'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, questioni...
Evolution Talk Needs Your Help
February 05, 2024 15:30 - 1 minute - 2.08 MBThe "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...
From A Warm Pond...
January 08, 2024 06:00 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBSagan 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, whi...
The Case of the Missing Chromosomes
December 11, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 15.3 MBOur 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...
Suboptimal Design
November 27, 2023 05:00 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MBVestigial 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...
About Those Fingerprints
November 13, 2023 05:00 - 13 minutes - 18.7 MBWhen 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 ...
What's Old is New Again
October 30, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 15 MBAttics 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 Ama...
The Ants Have It
October 16, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 14.5 MBAnts 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 ...
Reading, Writing, & Evolution
October 02, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MBEvolution 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 loc...
Playing Dead
September 18, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 13.3 MBIf 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 ...
Why Teach Evolution?
September 04, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBWith 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...
Summer Break
June 26, 2023 05:00 - 55 seconds - 1.31 MBIt'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.
Did the Homo Naledi Bury Their Dead?
June 19, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MBThe 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 ...
Nature's Halloween Party
June 12, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 14.6 MBDive 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 intrigui...
Gene Flow: The Recipe of Life
June 05, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MBWhen 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 the...
The Bone Wars
May 29, 2023 05:00 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MBDiscover "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 & ...
Get 25% off the Evolution Talk Book until June 8!
May 23, 2023 05:00 - 27 seconds - 682 KBYou 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
Our Reptilian Brain?
May 22, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 13.9 MBFrom 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...
It's All One Song
May 15, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 12.9 MBUsing 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 o...
The Grand Tapestry of Macroevolution
May 08, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 14.1 MBIn 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 ...
The Dance of the Alleles
May 01, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 14 MBThe 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...
Where There Is No Light
April 24, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 14.1 MBIn 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 n...
The Galapagos & Adaptive Radiation
April 17, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 13.9 MBOn 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 ...
Fact & Theory
April 10, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBIt 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 T...
What They Ate
April 03, 2023 05:00 - 13 minutes - 18.1 MBOur 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 ...
Hominins: The End of the Hominin River
March 27, 2023 05:00 - 13 minutes - 18.2 MBOur 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 ov...
Hominins: Homo erectus and the Mystery of the 5 Skulls
March 20, 2023 05:00 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MBThe 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 ...
Hominins: Homo habilis
March 13, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MBIn 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! ...
Hominins: Paranthropus
March 06, 2023 06:00 - 10 minutes - 14.7 MBThomas 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? Evolution Talk is also a book! You can find links to Amazon, Ba...
Hominins: Lucy and the Australopithecus
February 27, 2023 06:00 - 15 minutes - 21.1 MBWe’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. 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 ...
Hominins: Ardipithecus ramidus
February 20, 2023 06:00 - 13 minutes - 18.4 MBBetween 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? 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com...
Hominins: Ardipithecus kadabba
February 13, 2023 06:00 - 10 minutes - 14.3 MBIn 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. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com
Hominins: Orrorin tugenensis
February 06, 2023 06:00 - 10 minutes - 13.8 MBWe 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! 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk...
Hominins: Sahelanthropus tchadensis
January 30, 2023 06:00 - 9 minutes - 12.4 MBWe 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? 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com
Hominins or Hominids
January 23, 2023 06:00 - 5 minutes - 7.68 MBWhen 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! Evolution Talk is also a book! You c...
Walk This Way
January 16, 2023 06:00 - 10 minutes - 15 MBWhen 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! 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTal...
Return of the Naledi
January 09, 2023 06:00 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MBOur 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. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com
A Spandrel in the Works
January 02, 2023 06:00 - 10 minutes - 14.9 MBIn 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. 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. For sho...
The Eclipse: A Watchmaker
December 26, 2022 06:00 - 9 minutes - 13.7 MBIn 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. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com
The Eclipse: Mutationism
December 19, 2022 06:00 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBIn 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? 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com
The Eclipse: Neo-Lamarkism
December 12, 2022 06:00 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBIn 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. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.c...
The Eclipse of Darwinism
December 05, 2022 06:00 - 10 minutes - 14.3 MBAfter 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. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com
Speciation Pt. 2
November 28, 2022 06:00 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MBIn this continuation of the look at speciation we began in the last episode, we will tackle some more "not so obvious" causes. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com
Speciation Pt. 1
November 21, 2022 06:00 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MBIt'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. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com
One Cell's Junk
November 14, 2022 05:00 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MBFor 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. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https:/...
Orthogenesis
November 07, 2022 05:00 - 11 minutes - 15.5 MBIn 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. 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. For show notes and more, please visit https://EvolutionTalk.com Written, Produced, & Narrated...