Evolution Talk
Everything you wanted to know about evolution by natural selection in short, easy to digest, episodes. Hosted, and produced by writer Rick Coste.
Episodes
Do our thoughts serve a purpose, or are they just a byproduct of something deeper? Consciousness studies bridge the realms of philosophy and science. Are we truly aware, or is it all just an illusion?
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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 a...
In 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 ...
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 th...
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...
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 o...
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'l...
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, Bar...
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 & Nob...
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.
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....
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 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 othe...
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
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
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 po...
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 lin...
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 ...
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