Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:24 — 10.0MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Numbers and letters We pick it up from last time and finish the story of our alphabet, along with a look at where our numbers came from. Check out our latest attempt at Phil’s show. Part 2 of take 102 of Episode One

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:35 — 10.9MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

How we learned to write right This time we start from the very beginnings of writing, and move on to just before the invention of alphabets. Here’s part one of our latest attempted at Episode One. Positive thoughts, and shaven porcupines

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:37 — 13.8MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Who said what when, and how? The evidence is patchy and your hosts are daffy, but we try to figure out when language began.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:15 — 11.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Monkey talk! We look at how nonhuman primates use language, compare it to human language use, and guess how one turned into the other.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:14 — 11.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Animals, lies and language An honest signal is useful for the one sending and receiving it. But, dishonest signals tend to destabilize the ability to communicate. How did human language develop when words make it so easy to fib?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:07 — 12.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Prey or play When differing animals meet, they sometimes communicate. Sometimes threats, sometimes lies, sometimes laughter. We take a look at interspecies communication.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:40 — 10.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Ah, those babbling bacteria We begin a new subseries this week on language and communication. For starters, let’s have a looksee at how single-celled organisms chat.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:08 — 11.8MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Accidents and asteroids We didn’t notice it was going to be asteroid day until yesterday, but by coincidence, today is all about asteroids.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:53 — 13.0MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Robots chasing tail Once thought a portent of doom, or a sign of the impending death of kings, nowadays a comet makes a good target to launch a mission at.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:07 — 15.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS | More

Five years of the lab, for reasons We’ve been putting out episodes on science for five years. There’s no end in sight. You’re welcome, or we’re sorry, depending. In celebration we relax with a freeform episode, even drink a couple of beers. We do drift passed a bit of science, but only by accident.