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The Best of Our Knowledge

Understanding life’s origins and cheating chickadees

By Lucas Willard
Published August 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT
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Photo provided
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Carrie Branch
Mountain chickadee chicks in a nest box

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education, and research.

Scientists investigating the origins of life on Earth have made new discoveries about the earliest split in the tree of life.

And we’ll learn about common backyard birds cheating on their mates.

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The Best of Our Knowledge BirdsanimalsEarthlife
Lucas Willard
Lucas Willard is a news reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011. He produces and hosts The Best of Our Knowledge and WAMC Listening Party.
See stories by Lucas Willard
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