Our 80 billion neurons form an estimated 100 trillion connections. Through those links surge the signals that make thought possible. Sebastian Seung of MIT has been calling for a full-blown atlas of those connections, because he believes it will help us understand how the brain works and how the brain makes us who we are. In the April issue of Discover, I pay a visit to Seung’s lab to see what he’s up to, and what he hopes for the future. Check it out.

I couldn’t be happier that this column is available a couple weeks before Seung will participate in a public debate about the connectome on April 2, hosted by myself and Robert Krulwich of Radiolab. The tickets were all snapped up about an hour and a half after becoming available online, but I will certainly report back afterwards about how it went.

Originally published March 21, 2012. Copyright 2012 Carl Zimmer.

On my way to give a keynote talk at a genome meeting in California, I noticed in the Hartford airport that the April issue of Wired is on the newsstand. And in that issue is a feature I wrote about fighting viruses, based on visits and interviews with scientists exploring new ways of doing battle with these invisible foes. It’s not yet on Wired’s web site yet (I’ll post a link when it goes online), but here’s the introduction for a taste:

Continue reading “Waiting for the Penicillin Moment: my new feature on antiviral drugs for Wired” →

Here’s the latest batch of reviews from Download the Universe. Check out these science ebooks:

Living Architecture: How Synthetic Biology Can Remake Our Cities: A contemplation of how tinkering with cells can change civilization.

The Solar System: An interactive guide to the planets.

Gutenberg the Geek: How the explosion of the Internet today mirrors the birth of movable type.

Natural History: Mammals – Carnivores: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

The Stir of Waters: Radiation, Risk, and the Radon Spa of Jáchymov . A journey to a bizarre resort where people bathe in radioactive waters.

Originally published March 17, 2012. Copyright 2012 Carl Zimmer.

This week on Connecticut Public Radio I had a great talk with Faith Middleton about my recent Time magazine story about animal friendships. You can listen to the episode here. (I show up at about 33:00.)

Originally published March 16, 2012. Copyright 2012 Carl Zimmer.

Last summer I wrote in the New York Times about the exploits of Jason Munshi-South, a biologist who studies evolution in the wilds of New York City. Jason has now given a nice quick talk for TED-ED, TED’s new educational project, which is illuminated with lovely animations. Check it out:

Originally published March 15, 2012. Copyright 2012 Carl Zimmer.