Author: Lori Jia
I’ve got an article in tomorrow’s New York Times about the discovery of a remarkable case of convergence: an ancient relative of today’s crocodiles and alligators that evolved a dinosaur’s body–80 million before the dinosaurs evolved it. Here’s the paper.
Update, 1/26 7 am: Here’s Seth Sean Murtha’s nice sketch of Effigia okeeffeae. A bigger version is here.
Update, 2/1 9 am: Be sure to check out Carl Buell’s croc gallery.
My review of the Darwin show at the American Museum of Natural History is in the new issue of Discover. You can read the full text here.
Originally published January 25, 2006. Copyright 2006 Carl Zimmer.
Are brain parasites altering the personalities of three billion people? The question emerged a few years ago, and it shows no signs of going away.
I first encountered this idea while working on my book Parasite Rex. I was investigating the remarkable ability parasites have to manipulate the behavior of their hosts. The lancet fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum, for example, forces its ant host to clamp itself to the tip of grass blades, where a grazing mammal might eat it. It’s in the fluke’s interest to get eaten, because only by getting into the gut of a sheep or some other grazer can it complete its life cycle.
My apologies for the comment freeze over the past couple days. I’ve been away and have been distracted with catching up with other business. It should get resolved soon. You can always reach me directly at blog at carlzimmer.com.
Originally published January 17, 2006. Copyright 2006 Carl Zimmer.
I’ve just been rejiggering my RSS to pick up all the blogs that have come together at Science Blogs. Many of my favorites, like Chris Mooney and PZ Myers, plus ones new to me. As if I didn’t have enough ways to burn up my time…
Originally published January 12, 2006. Copyright 2006 Carl Zimmer.
