A couple weeks ago I mentioned that I’ll be teaching a workshop in January at Yale about science writing. The response has been fantastic, with 90 people signed up at my last count. What makes the response particularly interesting is that a couple subjects of my own articles (like this) will be coming. So I may get them to talk a little about what it’s like to be on the receiving end of the media machine.

Several readers have expressed dismay that they couldn’t come. I’m happy to report that at least part of the workshop will be recorded and turned into a podcast that will be available for free at the Yale Itunes site. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.

Continue reading “Workshop Update: New Time, New Podcast” →

I am a bone geek, I confess. On my bookshelves are a bunch of coffee-table books full of skulls, femurs, and xyphoid processes. They include From Lucy To Language, loaded with hominid remains, Human Bones for our current anatomy, and Fossils for a quick hit of Deep Time. An excellent addition to this sub-sub-genre is called, simply, Evolution. It’s loaded with gorgeous pictures of vertebrate skeletons (including this angler). In today’s New York Times, I have a photoessay with several other selections. You can check out a slide show here.

Update: I forgot to mention that I talk about the photoessay at the top of this week’s NY Times Science podcast.

Continue reading “Bony Beauties” →

I’ve updated the talks page on my web site after a long stretch of neglect. I’ve included links to podcasts and video of previous appearances, and what information I have at this point about upcoming talks. It’s going to be a fairly busy spring, with talks hither and yon on extinctions, whales, Darwin, and science writing. And that doesn’t even include talking about my next book, Microcosm.

Anyone interested in having me give a lecture or interview about Microcosm when it comes out in the spring is welcome get in touch. Knopf Speakers Bureau can handle requests for lectures on other topics.

Continue reading “Talking, Past and Future” →

Sorry about the mistake on the last post’s headline. (Vengeans? Sort of like vengeful vegans?) Spell-checkers have turned my brain to mush. 

Originally published November 2, 2007. Copyright 2007 Carl Zimmer.

“Here is a picture of my serotonin tattoo. I don’t know that it needs much more explanation than it’s my favorite neurotransmitter.”–Hayley

I thought there were more science tattoo out there. Last week brought nothing, but this week brought the collection up to 85. 

Originally published November 2, 2007. Copyright 2007 Carl Zimmer.