In Slate today, I take a look at the newly unveiled fossils of a strange new hominin, Australopithecus sediba. I try to separate the hype from the significance of this long-legged, long-armed, tiny-brained beast. My conclusion: let’s not turn this into another Darwinius affair!

Check it out.

[Photo by Brett Eloff courtesy of Lee Berger and University of Witwatersrand]

Originally published April 8, 2010. Copyright 2010 Carl Zimmer.

Did pregnancy tests help drive frogs extinct around the world? In my latest podcast, I talk to wildlife disease expert Peter Daszak about his research on how germs can drive animal species to extinctions, and jump from animals to us. Check it out.

Originally published April 7, 2010. Copyright 2010 Carl Zimmer.

Ed Yong, thankfully, is all over a new study on how the microbes in the guts Japanese people acquired genes from ocean germs to digest sushi. It’s yet another example of the mind-blowing science emerging from the study of our microbiome–the trillions of non-human organisms that share our body with us. For more on the microbiome, listen to my recent podcast with microbiomist (I just made that up, but it feels so right) Rob Knight.

I’d have blogged on this too, but I’m busy with something in the works for tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Originally published April 7, 2010. Copyright 2010 Carl Zimmer.

A commenter takes a microbe-lover to task. It’s on! Jonathan Eisen, we await your flying scissor kick!

[Link to comment fixed]

Originally published April 6, 2010. Copyright 2010 Carl Zimmer.