Podcast Summary
Access to essential rights and freedoms under threat, a tree from the past discovered: Planned Parenthood fights for reproductive rights, a 385 million year old tree discovered, Upway offers affordable eco-friendly ebikes
Access to essential rights and freedoms, such as sexual and reproductive care including abortion, is under threat in many states following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade. Planned Parenthood advocates for everyone's right to access care and with support from donors like us, they can work towards reclaiming and expanding these rights. Meanwhile, in a different context, a discovery in a quarry revealed the existence of a tree that once stood 385 million years ago, leaving us in awe of the passage of time. On a practical note, Upway offers certified and brand new ebikes at discounted prices, providing a more affordable and eco-friendly transportation option.
A Glimpse into Earth's Ancient Past: Uncovering the Secrets of Long-Lost Organisms: The Devonian period, around 420 million years ago, was a time of radical transformations on Earth, marked by the emergence of forests and diverse life forms. Fossils, like those at the New York State Museum, offer insights into a magical world of ancient organisms, from fish with tiger-like fangs to 12-foot tall fungi.
The paleontology collection at the New York State Museum offers a glimpse into Earth's ancient past, where forests and life forms that seem unimaginable once thrived. The fossils, which are cared for by experts like Lisa Amati, serve as pieces of a mystery novel, an adventure, and a puzzle, as scientists work to piece together the stories of these long-lost organisms. The Devonian period, around 420 million years ago, was a time before trees, with only a few signs of life on land. Instead, life flourished in the oceans, with various types of fish, some resembling dune worms or horseshoe crabs, and others with armor and tiger-like fangs. Even fungi, such as funcilla, which was 12 feet tall, were among the first life forms on land. The landscape was barren and rocky, yet teeming with life underwater. The abundance of ocean life began to make its way onto land, leading to the evolution of plants from algae to survive in a wet environment. This period marked the beginning of radical transformations on Earth, with forests and diverse life forms emerging. The fossil records, like the ones at the New York State Museum, serve as ghostly footprints that allow us to imagine the magical world that once existed.
A look into the first full forests on Earth during the Devonian period: The Devonian period, around 350-360 million years ago, marked the beginning of forests on Earth with the rapid evolution of plants, leading to a massive increase in biodiversity and the colonization of land by life forms.
The Cairo Quarry in upstate New York provides a unique glimpse into one of the first full forests on Earth, during the Devonian period around 350-360 million years ago. At the beginning of this era, plants were only a few inches tall. However, once they established a presence on land, they evolved rapidly and by the middle of the Devonian, there were trees, shrubs, and various other plant species. This period, known as the "Devonian plant explosion," saw a massive increase in biodiversity and the colonization of land by life forms. The tropical floodplains in upstate New York, with their warm temperatures and abundant rainfall, were an ideal environment for these forests to thrive. This time marked a significant shift in the planet's ecosystems, transforming it from primarily water to a world with diverse plant and animal life. The Cairo Quarry, with its preserved fossils, offers a fascinating window into this critical period in Earth's history.
Intermittent beer access leads to binge drinking in adolescent rats, but not adults: Adolescent rats may binge drink due to intermittent beer access, but adults do not. Listen to scientific papers at your own pace with the Listening app, which offers a free trial. Support Planned Parenthood for reproductive rights and consider buying Bombas socks, which are comfortable and socially responsible.
Intermittent access to beer can lead to binge-like drinking in adolescent rats, but not in adults. This finding was discussed in a scientific paper, but the listener was interrupted by an advertisement. To make reading material more accessible, the listener recommended the Listening app, which allows users to listen to scientific papers at their own pace. The app offers a month-long free trial for listeners of the Unexplainable podcast. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood was highlighted as an organization fighting for reproductive rights, especially in the face of ongoing legislative challenges. The listener emphasized the importance of supporting Planned Parenthood to ensure access to affordable and high-quality healthcare for millions of people. Lastly, the listener shared their personal experience with Bombas socks, which they found to be comfortable and cozy for all ages. Bombas also donates an item of clothing to someone in need for every purchase made, making it a socially responsible choice.
The first forests led to a catastrophic event: The emergence of forests during the Devonian period drastically changed the Earth's atmosphere, leading to an ice age and mass extinctions in the seas.
The first forests on Earth, which emerged during the Devonian period, led to a series of events that caused one of the most catastrophic events in the planet's history. These forests, through photosynthesis, drastically changed the atmosphere by reducing carbon dioxide levels and increasing oxygen. This shift in climate brought about an ice age and, subsequently, the release of nutrients from decomposing trees that fertilized massive algal blooms in the oceans. The decay of these blooms led to a depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water, resulting in mass extinctions in the seas and the end of the age of fishes. This event, known as the Devonian mass extinction, was one of only five times in Earth's history when the majority of species were wiped out due to external triggers. It's a reminder of the profound impact living beings can have on the planet's ecosystems.
The Emergence of Land Plants Shaped the Planet's Biosphere: The emergence of land plants during the Devonian period significantly impacted the planet's climate and ecosystems, potentially causing a mass extinction event. Ongoing research aims to understand the exact nature of their influence by analyzing changes in various locations and discovering more fossil forests.
The emergence of land plants during the Devonian period played a significant role in shaping the planet's biosphere, potentially contributing to a mass extinction event. However, the exact nature of their influence is still a subject of ongoing research. The indirect evidence includes climate and environmental changes, but it could also be the result of other triggers. To fully understand the global pattern, scientists need to analyze changes in numerous locations and discover more fossil forests. The emergence of land plants marked the beginning of life as we know it, but it also brought about the end of an era for marine life. Today, humans are transforming the climate and ecosystems at an unprecedented rate, releasing carbon into the atmosphere that was once absorbed by trees. We are on the brink of the 6th mass extinction, and it's the second one potentially caused by living beings. As we reflect on the past, we are reminded of our responsibility to preserve and protect the delicate balance of life on Earth.
Women runners' determination to complete marathons: Despite challenges, women find empowerment and personal growth in marathon journeys. Team Milk supports them with fuel and encouragement.
Despite the challenges and hardships, people, like the women runners featured in the new docuseries "Running Sucks," continue to push themselves to go the distance for various reasons. The series, brought to you by Team Milk, explores the motivations behind women runners' determination to complete marathons. Many runners don't necessarily love the act of running itself but rather find empowerment and personal growth in the experience. Team Milk aims to support these women by fueling their performance and helping them on their marathon journeys. If you're inspired, you can sign up for the inaugural Every Woman's Marathon taking place in Savannah, Georgia on November 16, 2024. For more information and to register, visit everywomensmarathon.com. Remember, you don't have to love every aspect of a challenge to overcome it. Sometimes, the journey itself is the reward. Additionally, the podcast "Unexplainable" encourages listeners to share their thoughts and support the show by leaving reviews and signing up for Vox's membership program. The team is taking a break but will be back in June. Lastly, Vox is conducting a podcast survey to learn more about its audience, so if you have a few minutes, please visit vox.com/podcast survey to participate. Your input helps them continue creating the shows you enjoy.