Podcast Summary
Discussing Capital One Venture X Card benefits and Kroger's money-back guarantee, with a brief history of pterosaurs: The Capital One Venture X Card offers 2X miles on every purchase and premium travel benefits, while Kroger guarantees money-back on their brand products. Pterosaurs, not dinosaurs, were large flying reptiles that lived during the late Cretaceous period.
The Capital One Venture X Card offers cardholders unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, along with premium travel benefits such as airport lounge access and a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One travel. Meanwhile, shopping for Kroger brand products provides customers with proven quality at affordable prices, backed by a money-back guarantee. Elsewhere in the discussion, Josh and Chuck talked about the term "batching it," which dates back to the 1980s, and introduced listeners to Quetzalcolytus Northropi, a large pterosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period. Despite common misconceptions, pterosaurs are not dinosaurs but rather winged reptiles that share a common ancestor with dinosaurs. The conversation also touched on the use of the term "pterodactyl," which is often incorrectly used interchangeably with "pterosaur."
The Misconception of Pterosaurs as Dinosaurs: Pterosaurs, flying reptiles from pre-dinosaur era, have a complex skeletal structure for flight, making fossils fragile and hard to find. O.C. Marsh discovered them first, but their study was limited due to their delicate remains.
Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs, despite common misconceptions. They were flying reptiles that existed before dinosaurs and even before birds. The term "pterodactyl" is often used interchangeably with "pterosaur," but it actually refers to a specific genus. Pterosaurs had a complex skeletal structure designed for flight, which made their fossils highly fragile and difficult to find. O.C. Marsh, a pioneering paleontologist, was among the first to discover pterosaur fossils in the late 1800s, but their study was limited due to the delicate nature of their remains. It's important to recognize the distinction between pterosaurs and dinosaurs and to appreciate the rich history and diversity of these fascinating ancient creatures.
The history of pterosaur discoveries and misconceptions: From initial misidentification as seafaring creatures to correct identification as flying reptiles, pterosaur discoveries shaped our understanding of these ancient beings. Best preserved fossils are often found in water environments.
The discovery and misidentification of pterosaur fossils, starting with the first one found in Germany in the late 18th century, played a significant role in shaping our understanding of these ancient flying reptiles. Initially thought to be seafaring creatures due to their discovery in ancient lagoons, it wasn't until later that their wings were correctly identified by Georges Cuvier, who coined the term "pterodactyl" meaning "wing finger" in Greek. The misconception of pterosaurs as pterodactyls, with their long wing fingers, persisted for a long time. The best preserved fossils of pterosaurs are often found in such environments, as they died and fell into water, preserving their delicate structures. A fun and safe platform for kids to share their content and connect with friends is Zigazoo, where they can create videos, enter contests, and try out trends without the risks of commenting or text messaging. And for those looking to make their money work while they relax, Betterment is an automated investing and savings app that helps grow your wealth.
Using Betterment as a versatile financial tool: Betterment is a diversified, automated investment platform for tax-efficient portfolios, acting as a workhorse for various financial needs, much like pterosaurs' multifaceted head crests.
Just like how pterosaurs, the ancient flying reptiles, had multifaceted uses for their distinctive head crests, your money too, with Betterment, is a versatile tool optimized for various purposes. It is diversified in low-cost ETF portfolios and automated for tax efficiency, making it a workhorse for your financial needs. The discovery of a female pterosaur without a head crest supports the theory that only males had them, possibly for display or defense. Similarly, your money, through Betterment, is managed efficiently so you don't have to be. Visit Betterment.com to learn more and start your financial journey. Remember, investing involves risk and performance is not guaranteed. Cash Reserve offered through Betterment LLC and Betterment Securities. Betterment is not a bank.
Convergent Evolution: Similar Traits in Unrelated Species: Pelicans and pterosaurs share similar behaviors, but they are not closely related. Convergent evolution explains how separate branches of the evolutionary tree develop similar traits. Recent research suggests pterosaurs had diverse eating habits and some were capable of long-distance flight.
The evolution of certain traits and behaviors in different species does not necessarily mean they are directly related. For instance, the behavior of skimming the water's surface and scooping up marine life with their jaws is seen in both pelicans and some pterosaurs, despite them not being closely related. This phenomenon is known as convergent evolution, where separate branches of the evolutionary tree develop similar traits. Additionally, recent research suggests that pterosaurs were not limited to a seafood diet and instead had a diverse range of eating habits, similar to modern birds. These findings challenge previous assumptions about the limited number and variety of pterosaur species. Furthermore, it is believed that some pterosaurs were capable of long-distance flight, making them more akin to modern-day jetliners than the fast and agile creatures often portrayed in popular culture. Overall, these discoveries provide new insights into the complexity and diversity of the prehistoric world.
The Misconception of Pterosaurs' Wing Structures: Pterosaurs were not bipedal or bat-like as previously believed, but likely quadrupeds with wings tucked to the side
The misconception between bats and pterosaurs, two distinct creatures, is understandable due to their wing structures. For many years, scientists incorrectly believed that pterosaurs had bat-like wings because of their membranous appearance. However, upon further research, it was discovered that pterosaurs had three fingers free at the end of their wings, unlike bats that have one digit wiggling free. This significant difference led scientists to reconsider how pterosaurs stood and moved, leading to the realization that they were likely quadrupeds rather than bipedal as previously thought. In contrast to the cartoonish depictions of pterodactyls in the past, they likely walked on all four legs with their wings tucked to the side. Additionally, there's a social media platform called Zigazoo, designed specifically for kids, which ensures a safe and positive online experience by eliminating commenting, text messaging, and employing human moderation.
The joy of learning new things: From apps and podcasts to paleontology discoveries, our understanding of the world continues to evolve as we uncover new evidence
Fun and learning can go hand in hand, whether it's through trying out new apps like Zigazoo during spring break or listening to podcasts like Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs. In the world of paleontology, another takeaway is the ongoing discovery of how creatures like pterodactyls evolved. Initially, it was believed they were bird-like and used their strong legs to jump and fly. However, recent findings suggest they were actually quadrupedal and relied more on their strong arms and shoulders for lift. This shows how our understanding of the past continues to evolve as new evidence comes to light. So whether you're learning about dinosaurs or enjoying some music, remember that there's always something new to discover.
New discoveries reveal pterosaurs' advanced adaptations: Pterosaurs had hollow, plywood-like bones for lightness and strength, large wingspans, and controlled flight through wrist bone adjustments.
Our understanding of pterosaurs, ancient flying reptiles, has significantly evolved. They were not the awkwardly-built creatures once believed, but rather, they had sophisticated adaptations, including hollow bones that made them incredibly light yet strong. These bones were made of cross-sectioned plywood-like structures, allowing for large wingspans while maintaining lightweight bodies. Contrary to earlier theories, pterosaurs did not rely solely on their wings for swimming or taking off from water. Instead, they had intricate methods of controlling their flight mid-air by altering the angle of their wrist bones. This newfound knowledge challenges previous assumptions about their appearance and capabilities.
Experience of Flying Private vs Commercial: Flying private offers convenience and time-saving luxury, but comes with less spaciousness. Inaccurate information can also impact travel plans.
Flying on a private jet offers a level of convenience and time-saving luxury unlike anything experienced in commercial air travel. The speaker describes the experience as hassle-free, with no need for lengthy airport waits or TSA screenings. Once aboard, the lack of spaciousness is a trade-off for the speed and efficiency of the journey. Despite the excitement of the experience, the speaker also acknowledges that it doesn't necessarily feel life-changing, but rather an impressive perk of wealth. Additionally, the speaker shares an update on a previous story about obtaining Russia visas, revealing that they were misinformed rather than disorganized. Overall, the conversation highlights the allure of private jet travel and the importance of accurate information.
From private jets to dinosaurs: Exploring shared interests: Shared interests can lead to exciting and enriching conversations, even between strangers on a private jet.
Our conversation about private jets led to a shared passion for dinosaurs and the ongoing research in the field. The speaker's enthusiasm for dinosaurs brought out the childlike wonder in both of us, and we reminisced about how public schools didn't do a great job of teaching us about this fascinating period in history. Dinosaurs were popular among kids in the 80s and continue to be a source of fascination today, especially with the recent advancements in research. The speaker also shared that the dinosaur paleontology community is known for its competitiveness and public disputes, which only adds to the intrigue of the field. Overall, our conversation showcased how shared interests can lead to engaging and meaningful conversations.
Unexpectedly, a great, great grandmother defied foot binding tradition: Individuals can challenge societal norms and expectations, preserving family history is important, and humanity has made progress
Despite the hardships and traditions of the past, people have found ways to adapt and make the best out of difficult situations. This was exemplified in a story shared by a listener named Ruowi, who discovered that her great, great grandmother had not actually had her feet bound for the purpose of wearing traditional Chinese shoes as a symbol of wealth, but had simply bought them instead. This unexpected revelation shows how societal norms and expectations can evolve over generations, and how individuals can defy them in unexpected ways. It also highlights the importance of preserving family history and passing down stories to future generations. The story serves as a reminder of the progress humanity has made, while also encouraging us to continue challenging norms and striving for improvement.
