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    • Turning everyday expenses into travel experiences with the Capital One Venture X CardThe Capital One Venture X Card offers unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, providing an opportunity to earn miles for everyday expenses and use them for travel, along with premium travel benefits like airport lounge access and a $300 annual credit for bookings.

      The Capital One Venture X Card offers unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, providing an opportunity to turn everyday expenses into extraordinary travel experiences, along with premium travel benefits like airport lounge access and a $300 annual credit for bookings. Meanwhile, the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe offers adventure and comfort for families, with available all-wheel drive and three-row seating. Squarespace allows users to create professional websites for various needs. An intriguing fact about elephants is that they have been known to grieve deeply when their loved ones pass away, as shown in the story of the elephant named Domini. Additionally, there existed smaller versions of woolly mammoths called Rangel Island mammoths, which were directly descended from their larger relatives but adapted to living on a smaller island and became dwarfed.

    • Wrangle Island mammoths co-existed with humans until 3,600 years agoWrangle Island mammoths survived human-caused extinction of other mammoths, and their DNA may help resurrect woolly mammoths using Asian elephants

      The Wrangle Island mammoths, a subspecies of woolly mammoths, co-existed with humans until around 3,600 years ago. They survived the extinction of the rest of the mammoths about 4,000 years earlier. Despite their extinction, their distant relatives, the African and Asian elephants, still roam the earth today. The possibility of resurrecting woolly mammoths using Asian elephant DNA exists due to the preservation of well-intact mammoth carcasses with brain, bone, and blood still present. This knowledge provides valuable insights into the relationship between humans and mammoths, and the mysteries surrounding their extinction remain a topic of ongoing research.

    • Discovering Woolly Mammoths: Insights from a Preserved CalfThrough the discovery of a well-preserved woolly mammoth calf, Lyuba, scientists have gained valuable insights into these extinct creatures' lives, appearance, and diet. The potential for studying their DNA offers further opportunities to learn about these fascinating animals.

      The discovery of a perfectly preserved woolly mammoth calf named Lyuba, found in 2007, provides valuable insights into these extinct creatures' lives. Lyuba, believed to be around a month old when she died, was found in Siberia and was preserved due to bacterial colonization that pickled her. This discovery, along with other well-preserved mammoth remains, allows scientists to understand how these animals lived and what they looked like. Additionally, advancements in DNA preservation technology suggest that there is a wealth of woolly mammoth DNA available for study. The debate over de-extinction is a complex issue, but the wealth of knowledge gained from studying these ancient creatures is invaluable. On a different note, the discussion touched upon Zigazoo, a social media platform designed for kids, which offers a safe and fun environment for them to create and share content. The platform is moderated and certified for online privacy protections, making it an attractive alternative to other social networks. Lastly, the woolly mammoths were not the snow-dwelling, snow cone-loving creatures we might imagine. Instead, they roamed the lands with a unique gait called a "mammoth step," and thrived in areas rich with vegetation. They were herbivores, and their diet consisted of a variety of plants.

    • Misconception of Woolly Mammoth's HabitatWoolly mammoths lived in grasslands during the Pleistocene era, not in a frozen wasteland as commonly believed. They had multiple layers of fur, an oily skin, and a thick layer of fat to keep warm.

      Contrary to popular belief, the Pleistocene era, where woolly mammoths lived, was not a frozen wasteland. Instead, grasslands covered the land, and woolly mammoths were herbivores that fed on these grasses. The climate was colder than today, but it wasn't unbearable, and the ecosystem was vastly different. Woolly mammoths had multiple layers of fur, an oily skin, and a thick layer of fat to keep them warm. They spent most of their time eating and were generally peaceful, but they could defend themselves against predators. Woolly mammoths shared their habitat with other large animals like saber-toothed tigers and woolly rhinoceroses. Their coats, made up of a guard fur and a woolly undercoat, were similar to that of a musk ox. Overall, the image of woolly mammoths living in a frozen wasteland is a misconception, and they were adapted to the climate and environment of the Pleistocene era.

    • Elephants and other extinct animals likely had complex behaviorsElephants and possibly other extinct animals had social behaviors, cared for young, grieved for dead, and may have tolerated human interaction, but their long gestation periods and potential rarity made them vulnerable to extinction.

      Despite their intimidating size and power, elephants, and possibly other extinct animals like mammoths, were likely social creatures with complex behaviors, including caring for their young and possibly grieving for their dead. The speaker expresses a desire to pet these animals, suggesting they may have been tolerant of human interaction. However, the risks involved in getting too close to these animals, as shown in the story of the woman and the tiger, highlight the importance of respecting their natural habits and keeping a safe distance. Additionally, the long gestation period of elephants indicates that they did not reproduce frequently, making their populations potentially more vulnerable to extinction.

    • Woolly mammoths and elephants: Similarities and DifferencesThough extinct, woolly mammoths shared similarities with modern elephants in their use of a musk gland and long-lasting teeth. They went through six sets of teeth over their 60-year lifespan and their herbivore diet would not have tasted drastically different from grass-fed livestock.

      The woolly mammoth, though extinct, shares similarities with modern elephants in their use of a musk gland to establish dominance and their long-lasting teeth. These massive creatures, known for their impressive tusks, went through six sets of teeth over their 60-year lifespan and died when their last set wore out. Despite their size and impressive features, their herbivore diet would likely not taste significantly different from grass-fed livestock. Woolly mammoths and elephants share a common ancestor, a primitive elephantine animal called the proboscidian.

    • Proboscidians: African Origin, Cold AdaptationProboscidians, including early elephants and mammoths, evolved in Africa around 55 million years ago and adapted to cold climates around 1.8 million years ago with thick coats and efficient blood circulation systems. Woolly mammoths had unique hemoglobin for oxygen conservation in cold environments.

      The probiscidians, also known as the order of prehistoric animals with a "Greek friend nose," evolved in Africa around 55 million years ago. These animals, including early elephants and mammoths, spread out of Africa and adapted to the cold climates during the Pleistocene era, around 1.8 million years ago. One notable adaptation was the development of a thick, woolly coat, as well as efficient blood circulation systems that kept their cores warm while allowing their extremities to remain cold. The woolly mammoth, which was not the largest or woolliest of its kind, had a unique hemoglobin that required less heat energy to release oxygen, conserving more heat for the cold environments. This adaptation was discovered by analyzing 43,000-year-old woolly mammoth DNA. These cold-adapted animals, including the woolly mammoth, were widespread and ranged from modern-day Europe to Asia and even as far as Ireland. The first evidence of smaller, willy mammoths appeared around 400,000 years ago.

    • Mystery of woolly mammoth extinctionWoolly mammoths went extinct around 12,000 to 13,000 years ago due to a combination of human over-hunting and climate change. Climate change led to shrinking habitats, rising sea levels, and altered food sources.

      The woolly mammoths, which once roamed the North American continent from the east coast to Mexico and even ventured into the Great Plains, went extinct around 12,000 to 13,000 years ago. The exact cause of their extinction is still a mystery, but the leading theories suggest a combination of human over-hunting (overkill hypothesis) and climate change. The climate change hypothesis suggests that as the climate warmed, glaciers melted, sea levels rose, and habitats shrank, leaving the mammoths with less food and smaller living areas. Additionally, the changing climate altered the types of plants available, which the mammoths were not adapted to eat. Ultimately, the combination of shrinking habitats and diminishing food sources proved fatal for these large mammals.

    • The Extinction of North American Mammoths: A MysteryDespite debates over human involvement or climate change, the extinction of mammoths around the world around the same time suggests a complex story

      The extinction of North American mammoths remains a mystery, with debates surrounding the role of humans versus climate change. While some believe humans hunted mammoths to extinction, others argue they coexisted or even revered them. However, the lack of clear evidence for mass hunting and the fact that mammoths went extinct around the same time in different parts of the world suggest a more complex story. Some propose using modern technology to bring mammoths back, but ethical concerns remain. Overall, the extinction of mammoths continues to be a fascinating and unresolved question in the field of archaeology and conservation.

    • Mammoths vs Mastodons: Differences in TeethMammoths had cheese grater-like molars, while mastodons had conical 'nipple teeth'. Jefferson collected mastodon bones, challenging the belief in a young Earth.

      The discussion revolved around the differences between mammoths and mastodons, two prehistoric animals that co-existed in the United States. While both are large, elephant-like creatures, their teeth are the most distinguishing feature. Mammoths have cheese grater-like molars, while mastodon molars have conical bumps resembling breasts, earning them the name "nipple teeth." The discussion also touched on the historical significance of these animals. Thomas Jefferson was an avid collector of mastodon bones and believed in the existence of living mammoths. The discovery of mastodon bones was the first scientific evidence of extinction, challenging the widely-held belief that the Earth was only a few thousand years old. The conversation also included some light-hearted moments, such as a chance encounter between Josh and the lead singer of the metal band Mastodon at a soccer game. Overall, the discussion provided fascinating insights into the natural history of these animals and their impact on scientific thought.

    • Judge a book by its age and page count with Nancy Pearl's rule of 50Based on your age, determine how many pages to read in a book before deciding to continue or move on, following Nancy Pearl's rule of 50.

      Nancy Pearl, a renowned librarian, suggests readers should judge a book by its page count based on their age. According to her rule of 50, if you're under 50, read 50 pages before deciding to give up. For each year older, subtract a page. By the time you're 100, only judge a book by its cover. The hosts discussed this rule during a podcast episode, which may have influenced the green-lighting of a movie based on Paul Tremblay's book "Headful of Ghosts," featuring Robert Downey Jr. The hosts also shared their excitement about upcoming events, including a Heart concert and their own live show in Boston. If you're interested in books, librarians, or upcoming events, consider following the Stuff You Should Know podcast on various platforms or visiting their website. Additionally, for a safer social media experience for kids, check out Zigazoo, where all members are verified and all content is human-moderated.

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