Palaeocast

The Carboniferous (Latin for 'coal-bearing') is a period of the Paleozoic named after the massive accumulations of coal that were formed globally during this time. These coal deposits were the fuel fo...

1 Feb 201846min

Ichthyosaurs are large marine reptiles that existed for most of the Mesozoic Era. The most familiar forms superficially represent dolphins, but some earlier ichthyosaurs were more eel like. They could...

7 Jan 20181h 9min

In this episode, we interview Dr Leigh Anne Riedman, University of California, about life during the Neoproterozoic Era, the most recent of the Precambrian Eon. This time interval is far from straight...

6 Jan 201844min

Professor John Long is an early vertebrate researcher at Flinders University, Australia. He is most famous for his work on the three-dimentionally-preserved fish from the Gogo Formation, North West Au...

1 Des 201723min

17 Okt 20171h 9min

Coccolithophores are tiny unicellular eukaryotic phytoplankton (algae). Each is covered with even smaller calcium carbonate plates called coccoliths and it is these that are commonly preserved in the ...

1 Okt 201749min

We've covered how palaeoart is made on Palaeocast before, but never what daily life is like for a professional palaeoartist. What does it take to get started, when can you say no to a commission and w...

1 Sep 201735min

The transition of fins to limbs is one of the most significant in the history of vertebrate evolution. These were the first steps that would eventually allow tetrapods to go on to dominate so many ter...

1 Aug 201728min