Why Did The Dinosaurs Go Extinct But Crocodiles & Birds Didn’t? - Dr. Ed Braun

Why Dinosaurs Died But Birds & Crocodiles Didn’t? Evolutionary genomicist Professor Ed Braun (University of Florida) pulls back the curtain on 65 million years of life’s history, from dinosaurs and birds to humans, microbes, and the hidden logic of our genomes.You’ll learn:–Why most dinosaurs died while birds and crocodiles survived, and how a single asteroid, body size, and pure luck still leave a detectable signal in bird genomes today.–How “junk DNA,” random mutations, and population size quietly shape evolution, and why small populations can spiral into extinction even when a species looks “saved” on paper.–How birds massively outpaced crocodiles in evolutionary speed, what this reveals about generation time and mutation, and why a single chromosomal flip 65 million years ago still rewires how we read their family tree.–Why curiosity‑driven science (not short‑term “useful” research) produces the breakthroughs that change the world, and how Ed thinks about meaning, atheism, faith, and staying intellectually alive in an age of social media outrage.00:00 The Mystery of Dinosaur Extinction00:53 Survival of Birds and Crocodilians02:48 Theories on Bird Survival03:37 Genetic Evidence and Population Changes05:13 Crocodilian Survival and Luck07:24 Biogeography and Evolution of Birds20:14 Human Evolution and Genetic Mutations47:21 Biodiversity and Microbial Life01:04:53 The Importance of Curiosity in Science01:06:01 Translational Research vs. Curiosity-Driven Science01:06:30 The Role of Genetics in Scientific Discovery01:09:33 The Impact of Foundational Work in Biotechnology01:10:54 The Value of Basic Science01:12:12 The Intersection of Curiosity and Play in Innovation01:13:42 The Joys of Academic Life01:19:42 The Journey to Becoming a Genomics Expert01:27:57 Insights from Sequencing Bird Genomes01:50:22 Balancing Faith and Science02:02:11 Advice for the Younger Generation02:03:31 Current Projects and Final Thoughts___FREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA Or if you want to start taking podcasting seriously: My full step-by-step podcast blueprint: https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385 Launch your podcast using my successful blueprint, even on a budget and with zero experience, get my new episodes 24 hours early & join a tribe of like-minded outliers who will help you grow…____Jari Eloranta’s WorkWebsite: https://people.clas.ufl.edu/ebraun/Work: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=31XPDbYAAAAJ&hl=en____Team:Host: Jacob Watson-HowlandChief Editor: Chloé BreheretChief Automation Officer: Jack McDuff Website: www.jacobwatsonhowland.com