

Weekly: The origins of writing revealed; world’s largest (and oldest?) tree
Nov 8, 2024
Michael Marshall, a science journalist, delves into the origins of cuneiform writing, highlighting its decentralized development as a cultural tool rather than a bureaucratic one. Madeleine Cuff discusses the urgency of the upcoming COP29 climate conference, amidst disappointing previous meetings. James Woodford reveals Pando, a massive, ancient tree that coexisted with woolly mammoths, possibly making it the oldest living organism. Lastly, Matthew Sparkes shares insights on vampire bats, their surprising running abilities, and their peculiar blood-based diet.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Cuneiform: The Birth of Writing
01:50 • 11min
Challenges and Breakthroughs in COP Meetings
12:21 • 9min
The Ancient Wonder of Pando
21:14 • 7min
Ancient Organisms and Unique Bat Metabolism
27:44 • 3min
The Social Strategies of Vampire Bats and Their Unique Diet
30:31 • 3min