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Discussion thread: Paleohistology (WHY ARE TEETH?) is published (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-21 23:41:30
Edited:
2026-01-22 00:02:02
Imported:
2026-01

Content

*This episode is published and ready to hear wherever you get podcasts. Let's talk about it!*

This is one of those "wtf is this topic? Wait, I love this" episodes. Paleohistolgy: the study of ancient tissues. TEETH: Why do they exist?

Dr. Yara Haridy took me behind the scenes at the Field Museum of Chicago and is SO funny and charming and she lights up talking about where teeth came from and how they landed in your mouth. Also: why are you sensitive after dental work, and how a recent study of hers shook up so much in paleo timelines.

I have wanted to interview her for years and it was such a delight. Listen in and let me know what you thought.

Yours in dentine,

Your Father of Pod Alison Ward, currently writing to you from a beautiful library in Boston

Files

Paleohistology (WHY TEETH EXIST) with Dr. Yara Haridy - alie ward

Excuse me, why do you have teeth? How did they get in your mouth and where did they come from? Let's ask researcher, tooth enthusiast, and Paleohistologist Dr. Yara Haridy. She opened up the archives at Chicago's Field Museum to chat about ancient skulls, drawers of bones, and the evidence

Comments

Colby Evans

Chicago? Boston? Visit those places in the Spring!

Alie Ward

Out here for a quick meeting but am hoping to come back in late spring when all the professors' schedules are less bananas. So many ologists I want to talk to -- I'm overwhelmed truly

Bex

Ive been at the dentist a lot lately and now I can’t wait to have new teeth facts to share next time I go back thank you

Dr. Niki

Who have some of the weirdest teeth and why is it sloths

Jan

I have a massive overbite, but why?

Spencer Holtaway

The chemistry on this one was SO fun. (Interpersonal not chemical science)

Naomi Jane

As one of the folks who've been asking for a TEEF episode for years, thank you Dad 😌🙏🏻 only half way through but loving it!

Oisin Hurley

Amazingly fun episode, Dr. Yara is great!

Katelyn Alice

Dr. Yara is such a delight and this episode has me appreciating my partner's panda catfish more 😌🫶

Jessica

I loved the episode and the interaction together. I’m so glad you said we need a teeth episode because I was feeling insecure with my general teeth knowledge before you said that! I looked up a lot of terms.

Alie Ward

Oh we gotta go DEEP on teeth but at least now we know they started as outside nubbins which is weird as hell

Alie Ward

Yes, we love her! So long in the making!

Alie Ward

We still need a tooth-tooth episode but what a great foundation

Alie Ward

I love doing these in person again. Groundhogs was also IRL and the vibes are just immediately more chill and weird

Alie Ward

We do talk about alignment a little in this and how our jaws develop!

Alie Ward

Let us know how they are received, Bex

Colby Evans

Thank you for the cassowary bonus secret!

Alie Ward

I have a sloth guy in Costa Rica who says I can tour the sloth sanctuary at any time so YEAH HELL YEAH

Marisa

I loved this episode so much and learned a ton! Yara is wonderful in all ways! And the interaction and vibe between you just flows.

Noasusan

Wow your guys' energy was infectious. Really enjoyed this one. Also I just finished the Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum which you recommended in the historical toxicology episode and I LOVED it!

That Iowa Ginger

I'm so glad I'm not the only one freaked out by babies with teeth in their skulls. I'm a mom and I was totally grossed out. Also by his teeth in general. My kid will never find a film canister full of his teeth.

Janelle B

Really loved this episode! I've never been much into paleontology before, but now I have a new appreciation for the tiny microscopic tissue fossils in our world and how they help us explore big questions. Dr. Haridy's passion is clear and I liked how she discussed the wonders of scientific research and inquiry. Keep up the great work sharing more wonderful ologists with us!

Lillian Rolfe

This was a most delightful episode. I’d love a human teeth episode! I really think our teeth are proof we shouldn’t live past 35…..what an awful mess in there! OUCH.

Cheyenne Montgomery

Fun fact (since you guest was born in Morocco) the Moroccan variant of Arabic has three different words for teeth. Drous for molars, niyaab for k-9 teeth, snaan for everything else.

Susan G

After having two completely different friend groups recently tell me about snails having the most teeth and how traumatising that was for them to know, I was delighted to get to inform them after listening to this podfic that actually snails do *not* have teeth because it is keratin and not odontodes! Thank you!

SustainableSirenian

I’m so sad I didn’t hear about manatee teeth and how they are mammals that DO constantly replace their teeth; see Marching Molars!

I am Nrobnas

My back is more than enough proof that I should’ve peaced out a decade ago

I am Nrobnas

True story. I discovered this fun fact getting my Masters in Physical Anthropology. My mind exploding went something like this: “Whoa, what the hell is this (picture)??? Wait! This is real?! This is how all humans are born?! Noooooo! I never want to see this photo ever again!”

peach head

I loooove this episode and the Yara Haridy is so fun!

Katy

Heard the bit about Dr. Haridy trying to tell her dentist about her research and them not caring... Don't know where she lives in Chicago, but if she wants a dentist who'd love that shit, I have one such dentist up in Logan Square who I can recommend!

DeeDeeNoodle

I was so excited to share with my 9yo kiddo about shark skin being covered in odontodes and... He was like 'uh yeah I knew that already'.. damn. Gotta find more fun facts about sharks lol