Zachary Smith at Talking Points Memo, among others, notes that the Washington Post editorial page editor is still claiming that George Will’s many misrepresentations about global warming were subject to “careful fact-checking,” some two months after many people showed they were anything but–including some who explained the errors in the Washington Post itself. It’s a sad coda to a long tale of op-ed woe.

Originally published April 30, 2009. Copyright 2009 Carl Zimmer.

Marcel Salathe, a biologist I know at Stanford, is running a very cool study on swine flu psychology that you can be a part of. Here’s the dope from Marcel:

Continue reading “Swine Flu Got You Worried? Unruffled? Be A Part of Scientific History!” →

I am told that the Huffington Post represents the future of journalism. I sure hope it’s not the future of science journalism. Some of their posts on swine flu have caused a strange creaky sound in my skull, and for a few days now I haven’t been able to figure it out. It turns out to have been the prelude to a full-out head explosion, which took place when I just read this by New ager Marianne Williamson:

Continue reading “The Swine Flu Is All In Your Head: Is Anyone Awake At the Huffington Post?” →

The folks at The Reef Tank interviewed me about my writing–in particular, about my writing on the creatures of the deep. Check it out.

Originally published April 28, 2009. Copyright 2009 Carl Zimmer.

Last week I wrote about a piece in Slate in which Brendan Borrell argued that concerns over the threat to biodiversity from global warming is overshadowing the bigger threat from habitat destruction. Brendan is back from a trip to South Africa and has left a lengthy “and well-considered“comment below. Definitely check it out. I still have some problems with his argument, but it’s so much more satisfying to discuss these issues with somebody who takes the scientific research seriously than someone who just wants to quote mine .

Originally published April 27, 2009. Copyright 2009 Carl Zimmer.