[BONUS] Fairy tale evolution and the 400(ish) year old elusive Greenland shark: Tiny Show and Tell Us #53
Summary
Hosts Sam Jones and Deboki Chakravarti are joined by historian Matt Gabriel to discuss using phylogenetic analysis to trace the evolution of folktales like Little Red Riding Hood. They then explore the Greenland shark, examining scientific debates over its estimated 400-year lifespan and recent discoveries regarding its vision and genome. The episode highlights how interdisciplinary methods reveal the deep history of stories and the enduring mysteries of deep-sea biology.
Topics discussed
Introduction and guest Matt Gabriel
Listener submission on phylogenetic analysis of folktales
Tracing the evolution of Little Red Riding Hood
Historical parallels and manuscript stemma
The incredible lifespan of Greenland sharks
Radiocarbon dating and shark longevity genes
Scientific debate on shark age and vision
The mystery of the deep ocean
The value of scientific rigor and disagreement
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