From primate calls to complex grammar, language evolution is one of humanity’s greatest mysteries. This episode spotlights biological and cognitive breakthroughs that turned noise into speech.Powered by NotebookLM AI.Sources:Fitch, W.T. (2000). The evolution of speech: a comparative reviewhttps://www.biolinguistics.uqam.ca/Fitch_2000.pdfFitch, W.T. (2002). Comparative Vocal Production and the Evolution of Speechhttps://langev.com/pdf/fitch02comparativeVocal.pdfFitch, W.T. et al. (2016). Monkey vocal tracts are speech-readyhttps://oar.princeton.edu/bitstream/88435/pr10f2g/1/Monkey_vocal_tracts_2016.pdfArbib, M.A. (2003). Towards a computational neuroethology of language evolutionhttps://langev.com/pdf/arbib03pt.pdfAhern, C.A. et al. (2016). Evolutionary forces in language changehttps://arxiv.org/pdf/1608.00938.pdfSound Track:https://pixabay.com/music/funk-fun-upbeat-pop-funk-pop-groove-party-215688/

From primate calls to complex grammar, language evolution is one of humanity’s greatest mysteries. This episode spotlights biological and cognitive breakthroughs that turned noise into speech.Powered by NotebookLM AI.Sources:Fitch, W.T. (2000). The evolution of speech: a comparative reviewhttps://www.biolinguistics.uqam.ca/Fitch_2000.pdfFitch, W.T. (2002). Comparative Vocal Production and the Evolution of Speechhttps://langev.com/pdf/fitch02comparativeVocal.pdfFitch, W.T. et al. (2016). Monkey vocal tracts are speech-readyhttps://oar.princeton.edu/bitstream/88435/pr10f2g/1/Monkey_vocal_tracts_2016.pdfArbib, M.A. (2003). Towards a computational neuroethology of language evolutionhttps://langev.com/pdf/arbib03pt.pdfAhern, C.A. et al. (2016). Evolutionary forces in language changehttps://arxiv.org/pdf/1608.00938.pdfSound Track:https://pixabay.com/music/funk-fun-upbeat-pop-funk-pop-groove-party-215688/

Why do people believe in conspiracies, ghosts, or hidden forces? In this episode, we tackle belief formation from pattern-seeking to emotional comfort. Science helps explain how and why beliefs spread—even strange ones.Powered by NotebookLM AI.Sources:Douglas, Karen, Sutton, Robbie M. (2023) What are conspiracy theories? A definitional approach to their correlates, consequences and communication.https://kar.kent.ac.uk/96266/van Prooijen JW, Douglas KM, De Inocencio C. Connecting the dots: Illusory pattern perception predicts belief in conspiracies and the supernatural. Eur J Soc Psychol. 2018 Apr;48(3):320-335. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2331. Epub 2017 Sep 25. PMID: 29695889; PMCID: PMC5900972.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5900972Dagnall N, Denovan A, Drinkwater KG and Escolà-Gascón Á (2025) Paranormal belief and conspiracy theory endorsement: variations in adaptive function and positive wellbeing. Front. Psychol. 16:1519223. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1519223https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1519223/pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.comSound Track:https://pixabay.com/music/funk-fun-upbeat-pop-funk-pop-groove-party-215688/

Why do people believe in conspiracies, ghosts, or hidden forces? In this episode, we tackle belief formation from pattern-seeking to emotional comfort. Science helps explain how and why beliefs spread—even strange ones.Powered by NotebookLM AI.Sources:Douglas, Karen, Sutton, Robbie M. (2023) What are conspiracy theories? A definitional approach to their correlates, consequences and communication.https://kar.kent.ac.uk/96266/van Prooijen JW, Douglas KM, De Inocencio C. Connecting the dots: Illusory pattern perception predicts belief in conspiracies and the supernatural. Eur J Soc Psychol. 2018 Apr;48(3):320-335. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2331. Epub 2017 Sep 25. PMID: 29695889; PMCID: PMC5900972.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5900972Dagnall N, Denovan A, Drinkwater KG and Escolà-Gascón Á (2025) Paranormal belief and conspiracy theory endorsement: variations in adaptive function and positive wellbeing. Front. Psychol. 16:1519223. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1519223https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1519223/pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.comSound Track:https://pixabay.com/music/funk-fun-upbeat-pop-funk-pop-groove-party-215688/

Bees, birds, and apes—all have builders. In this episode, our AI co-hosts explore the world of animal architecture. From cognitive nest-making in birds to the mating strategies behind weaverbird constructions, and the developmental learning of orangutan nests, we unravel what makes these structures amazing—and what they mean for evolution, ecology, and even human design.Powered by NotebookLM AI.Sources:Breen, Alexis & Guillette, Lauren & Healy, Susan. (2016). What Can Nest-Building Birds Teach Us?. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews. 11. 83-102. 10.3819/ccbr.2016.110005. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301246908_What_Can_Nest-Building_Birds_Teach_UsNarkhede, Dr-Parag & Bura, Ar. Gautami. (2021). The Concepts of Animal Architecture. Compliance Engineering. 12. 38. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360317635_The_Concepts_of_Animal_ArchitectureVance-Shackelford (2021) — Nest Constructionhttps://www.toddkshackelford.com/downloads/2021/Vance-Shackelford-EACB-NestConstruction-2021.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.comThe ontogeny of nest-building behaviour in Sumatran orang-utans, Pongo abeliihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.02.018Medina I, M Perez D, Silva ACA, Cally J, León C, Maliet O, Quintero I. Nest architecture is linked with ecological success in songbirds. Ecol Lett. 2022 Jun;25(6):1365-1375. doi: 10.1111/ele.13998. Epub 2022 Mar 27. PMID: 35343052; PMCID: PMC9311449.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9311449/Sound Track:https://pixabay.com/music/funk-fun-upbeat-pop-funk-pop-groove-party-215688/

Bees, birds, and apes—all have builders. In this episode, our AI co-hosts explore the world of animal architecture. From cognitive nest-making in birds to the mating strategies behind weaverbird constructions, and the developmental learning of orangutan nests, we unravel what makes these structures amazing—and what they mean for evolution, ecology, and even human design.Powered by NotebookLM AI.Sources:Breen, Alexis & Guillette, Lauren & Healy, Susan. (2016). What Can Nest-Building Birds Teach Us?. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews. 11. 83-102. 10.3819/ccbr.2016.110005. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301246908_What_Can_Nest-Building_Birds_Teach_UsNarkhede, Dr-Parag & Bura, Ar. Gautami. (2021). The Concepts of Animal Architecture. Compliance Engineering. 12. 38. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360317635_The_Concepts_of_Animal_ArchitectureVance-Shackelford (2021) — Nest Constructionhttps://www.toddkshackelford.com/downloads/2021/Vance-Shackelford-EACB-NestConstruction-2021.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.comThe ontogeny of nest-building behaviour in Sumatran orang-utans, Pongo abeliihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.02.018Medina I, M Perez D, Silva ACA, Cally J, León C, Maliet O, Quintero I. Nest architecture is linked with ecological success in songbirds. Ecol Lett. 2022 Jun;25(6):1365-1375. doi: 10.1111/ele.13998. Epub 2022 Mar 27. PMID: 35343052; PMCID: PMC9311449.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9311449/Sound Track:https://pixabay.com/music/funk-fun-upbeat-pop-funk-pop-groove-party-215688/

The Hidden History of Plague and PandemicFrom medieval mass graves to modern epidemiology, this episode journeys through the genomic and historical story of plague. Our AI hosts delve into ancient DNA, trace pathogen spread from London to Europe, uncover how human immune genes evolved, and map how modern outbreaks echo centuries-old events.Fully AI-generated by Google’s NotebookLM, using peer-reviewed genomic and epidemiological research.Sources:K. I. Bos et al. (2011) – A draft genome of Yersinia pestis from victims of the Black Deathhttps://www.nature.com/articles/nature10549Spyrou, C. A. et al. (2016) – Historical Y. pestis genomes reveal the European Black Death as source of ancient and modern plague pandemicshttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/326505225_Historical_Y_pestis_genomes_reveal_the_Black_Death_as_source_of_ancient_and_modern_plague_pandemicsImmel, A. et al. (2021) – Analysis of genomic DNA from medieval plague victims suggests long‑term effect of Y. pestis on human immunity geneshttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/351664759_Analysis_of_Genomic_DNA_from_Medieval_Plague_Victims_Suggests_Long-Term_Effect_of_Yersinia_pestis_on_Human_Immunity_GenesMartini, M. et al. (2023) – The Natural and Clinical History of Plague: From the Ancient Past to Modern Erahttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/1/146Sound Track:https://pixabay.com/music/funk-fun-upbeat-pop-funk-pop-groove-party-215688/

The Hidden History of Plague and PandemicFrom medieval mass graves to modern epidemiology, this episode journeys through the genomic and historical story of plague. Our AI hosts delve into ancient DNA, trace pathogen spread from London to Europe, uncover how human immune genes evolved, and map how modern outbreaks echo centuries-old events.Fully AI-generated by Google’s NotebookLM, using peer-reviewed genomic and epidemiological research.Sources:K. I. Bos et al. (2011) – A draft genome of Yersinia pestis from victims of the Black Deathhttps://www.nature.com/articles/nature10549Spyrou, C. A. et al. (2016) – Historical Y. pestis genomes reveal the European Black Death as source of ancient and modern plague pandemicshttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/326505225_Historical_Y_pestis_genomes_reveal_the_Black_Death_as_source_of_ancient_and_modern_plague_pandemicsImmel, A. et al. (2021) – Analysis of genomic DNA from medieval plague victims suggests long‑term effect of Y. pestis on human immunity geneshttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/351664759_Analysis_of_Genomic_DNA_from_Medieval_Plague_Victims_Suggests_Long-Term_Effect_of_Yersinia_pestis_on_Human_Immunity_GenesMartini, M. et al. (2023) – The Natural and Clinical History of Plague: From the Ancient Past to Modern Erahttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/1/146Sound Track:https://pixabay.com/music/funk-fun-upbeat-pop-funk-pop-groove-party-215688/