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? 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 bookstore and ask them to order a copy.   Music in this Episode ...

In 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...

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 others on the front page of EvolutionTalk.com, or call...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

I wanted to tell you about a couple of projects I have underway outside of the world of science that may interest some of you. One is a podcast, and the other is a YouTube channel, which may turn into a podcast. I’ll start with the podcast, and that is Introvert’s Almanac. I recently launched this show to talk about the introvert experience, some tips, a bit of advice, and the science behind it (so I guess there’s a bit of science involved). If you’re an introvert or have a friend or family...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...