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Tonight we'll be featuring our interview with evolutionary biologist Dr. Mark Pagel. The audio of the interview will be posted tonight in the show pages on ThinkAtheistRadio.com at 5PM Pacific/8PM Eastern. I'll be updating that page at show time with a link to the show page. (See hereif you're unsure how best to listen to the show on the new site.) Consider purchasing Dr. Pagel’s new book, linked below, to thank him for taking the time out to join us and to support the show!

Dr. Mark Pagel heads the Evolution Laboratory in the Biology Department at the UK’s University of Reading. Working in the philosophy of biology, mind, and language, he answers questions such as “Why would humans have evolved language abilities that keep them from communicating with other humans?” His other work has involved using statistical methods to reconstruct features of dinosaur genomes and to make inferences about the ancestral features of genes and proteins. His talk at the TED Global 2011 conference in Edinburgh Scotland on how humanity has been transformed by language is a must watch. Dr. Pagel’s new book Wired for Culture: Origins of the Human Social Mindexplores 80,000 years of human evolutionary history to describe why our innate imperative to be a part of and contribute to the culture we were born into aided our survival and progress in the past and still influences us today. It is this subject that he joined us to discuss.

And certainly if you haven't already do make sure and check out our interview with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson!

Alright, LINKS!

Neuroscience and philosophy must work together. Theories of consciousness are challenged by recent research into the impact of brain function on the sense of self.

Have scientific questions? There are no "Answers in Genesis".

Not terribly blessed are the poor. Turns out church schools shun the poorest pupils.

Half billion year old eel-like creature is the ancestor of everything with a backbone.

This week featured the 101st Women's Day for which The Independent listed the best and worst places in the world to be a woman.

"The Virus Planet"– A hidden universe that would reach out to 100 million light years if laid end to end.
Scientists and tourists bring thousands of alien seeds into Antarctica.

Pseudosciences are destroying the reputation of Australia's universities.

Christian philosopher Alvin Plantinga has recently written a book attempting to not only argue that science and religion are not only compatible but that it's actually atheism and science that are in conflict.

Famous UK psychic Sally Morgan looks to have been caught red handed again.

Lawrence Krauss asks at PuffHo Why are religious beliefs off limits?
Conflicting Higgs results muddy particle hunt.

Gorilla genome analysis reveals new human links.

A world within a tumor– new study shows just how complex cancer can be.
Rush Limbaugh, being a dick, and skepticism.

Countless millions of taxpayer's money spent on discrimination in schools.

Barbaric post-circumcision penis-sucking practice leads to another death.

Jerry Coyne wrote to criticize an article appearing in the New Yorker about the evolution of altruism.
Scientists have captured the first ever images of atoms moving inside a molecule.

What's so interesting about religion such that atheists should be interested in incorporating some of its features?

Some say that life can be bleak without god, but atheism is about facing up to the reality regardless.
Several scientists in relevant fields answer the question, will we find life on other planets in the next decade?

Science education is no guarantee of skepticism.

Virgin Oceanic's voyage to the bottom of the sea. Meanwhile, Titanic and Avatar director
James Cameron is about to head himself to the bottom of the Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the ocean.

Michael Shermer and Kenneth Miller engaged in a point counterpoint on the question of whether science and religion are in conflict.

"Ignorance is strength" is apparently the opinion of Republicans.

Intelligent Design proponents have recently attempted an end-run around science.

Surely by now you've seen the magnificent video of Neil deGrasse Tyson's thoughts on the most astounding fact of the universe. But Ethan Siegel disagrees that this is THE MOST astounding fact and presents his opinion.

Oklahoma House of Representatives turns into a House of Worship.

New NASA research reveals the primordial building blocks of life.

A senator agrees to appear at the Reason Rally by video but his "Reason Credentials" are in doubt.
Christians have no right to wear the cross at work, says the British government in rights court case.