Evolution Talk

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

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 member who is, please share this with them. 
The other project is an extension of a hobby of mine, and that is vinyl records. I launched the YouTube channel “The Joy of Vinyl” last year to explore my appreciation of vinyl records and the audio equipment used to enjoy them. I cover everything from starting a collection, caring for it, and my recommendations for some of the equipment I’ve encountered on my audio journey.

Introvert's Almanac (podcast)

Joy of Vinyl (YouTube channel)

And as always, thank you for listening.

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