If you’re just tuning in, on Tuesday I offered five free signed copies of my new book Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life to readers if they sent in a question. I was quite stoked to see the huge reaction. I can tell from the quality of the questions that the sheer volume was not just the result of the lust for a free book. While I can only answer five questions today, I think most people who asked one will find that parts of the book touch on it.

So–without further ado, let’s dive in. (This is the first of five posts I’ll deliver today.)

Continue reading “Microcosm Winner #1: Why E. coli?” →

Thanks to everyone who submitted the 240 or so questions about Microcosm, E. coli, and life in general. I’ll pick five of them tonight and answer them tomorrow and start signing copies for the winners. And if you didn’t enter, why not considering getting a copy anyway? 

Originally published May 8, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

From the blog of Steven Johnson, author of The Ghost Map and Mind Wide Open

Go Buy Microcosm Right Now

Carl Zimmer may be my favorite science writer around today (others seem to agree), so I’m excited to report that his new book Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life hit the shelves yesterday. I had the opportunity to read it in manuscript form, and it’s really an exceptional book — what Carl calls an “(un)natural history of E. coli” — the world’s most famous microbe.

Continue reading “Relayed Without Comment” →

Just a quick reminder–I’ll be keeping the contest for a free autographed copy of Microcosm till 5 pm this afternoon. Think of a question about E. coli (and what it can say about life itself), and get in the running for a signed book. I’ll post answers to the winning responses tomorrow by noon.

(Thanks to PZ Myers for a link from Pharyngula). 

Originally published May 8, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

In case you missed it, there’s a great article in Smithsonian about hyena intelligence, focusing on the work of Kay Holekamp, the subject of my recent piece in the New York Times. The author, Steve Kemper, spent time with Holekamp in hyena country in Kenya, seeing just how brutal (and fascinating) life as a spotted hyena can be.

Smithsonian Magazine | Science & Nature | Who’s Laughing Now?

update: link fixed. 

Originally published May 8, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.