I’m sure you’d like to pretend that you have nothing in common with a tapeworm.

A tapeworm starts off as an egg which then develops into a cyst. Inside the cyst is a ball-shaped creature with hooks that it can use to crawl around its host before growing into an adult. Many species are made up of dozens or hundreds of segments called proglottids. Each proglottid may be equipped with both eggs and sperm-making organs. As an adult, a tapeworm also grows a head-like end often equipped with suckers or hooks of its own. This strange organ is called the scolex. (The shark tapeworm in this photo is displaying its fearsome scolex.) While the tapeworm lives in the gut of its host, it uses its scolex to clamp down in place, although it may swim around to find an ideal spot from time to time.

Continue reading “A Tapeworm Mystery: Which Way Is Up?” →

Richard writes, “On my shoulder. Taken from an engraving by Ernest Haekel.”

Carl: Here’s the Wikipedia page on diatoms, those abundant microscopic shell-builders of the sea. And here’s a gallery of Haeckel’s amazing illustrations, many tattoos in the making (and made, in some cases). 

Originally published June 28, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

Science writer Peter Dizikes reviews my book Microcosm for the New York Times. It’s great to see that he gets it–i.e., he understands what I’m trying to do with E. coli in the book. I actually appreciate that more than a positive review. Fortunately, he liked the book, too, calling it engrossing, vivid, and adroit. Check it out. 

Originally published June 28, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

I’m back on bloggingheads.tv, talking this week with Paul Ehrlich about everything from climate change to Polynesian canoe oars to the origins of human culture to why cars are best for teenagers to make out in. Check it out. 

Originally published June 28, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

MLR writes: “The Tree of Life” carbon, glucose, light, DNA, and the golden rectangle. A tattoo by Kevin Riley. On the chest of a PhD student in molecular biology.”

Click here to go to the full Science Tattoo Emporium. 

Originally published June 27, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.