Why Evolution Is True: A Ten-Thousand-Character Deep Dive | Feifan 07

What This Episode Is About

The adorable cat at home, the magpie you happen to spot on your way to work, the capybara you stumble across while slacking off and scrolling, and you yourself in front of your phone—millions of years ago, were they all actually the exact same kind of life? Evolution tells us that every living thing on Earth today can be traced back to a common ancestor: a molecule that, thanks to sheer chance, began copying itself.

The course of evolution is like an invisible umbilical cord, linking us to every species still alive on Earth—and also to the countless creatures that went extinct long ago. Amid the vast ocean of life-forms, humans have never been alone. We share the eternity and breadth of life with billions upon billions of fellow beings.

You’ll Hear

• Learn about the four great biological mysteries behind evolution
• Uncover the evolutionary principles embedded in algorithmic logic
• Experience the magnificent beauty of Earth’s life continuing through all the ages

Quote of the Episode

Male peacocks with more beautiful tails are more likely to produce more offspring, and thus come out ahead in evolution. That’s the logic of sexual selection. In other words, it doesn’t matter whether you’re any good at getting things done. What matters is whether I, your queen, decide you’re worth having.

The entire biosphere today originated from the same ancient ancestor about 3.5 billion years ago—and that ancestor may have been nothing more than a molecule that, for some accidental reason, could copy itself.

Once we know there are things between heaven and earth many times grander and more ancient than I am, sometimes we simply keep our heads down and get on with things. But sometimes, we can roam the universe and see clearly into the affairs of humankind.

About the Author

Jerry A. Coyne　Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago, he researches evolutionary genetics and is one of the world’s leading evolutionary biologists. He is also a regular contributor to The New Republic, The Times Literary Supplement, and National Public Radio.