This post was originally published in “Download the Universe,” a multi-author blog about science ebooks edited by Carl Zimmer.

Planet Killers: A Spine-Tingling Look at Near Earth Objects, Mass Extinctions, and the Controversial Science of Planetary Defense. By Tad Friend. Published by Byliner Originals, 2011.

Reviewed by Tom Levenson

February 29, 2012

Continue reading “Doomsday Deflected”

This post was originally published in “Download the Universe,” a multi-author blog about science ebooks edited by Carl Zimmer.

SMILE: The Astonishing Power of a Simple Act. By Ron Gutman. Published by TED Books, 2011.

Reviewed by David Dobbs

February 28, 2012

Continue reading “SMILE: The Astonishing Destructive Power of Positive Thinking”

Download the Universe, the new science ebook review that I and a group of other writers and scientists recently launched, is now entering its second week. I’ve written this week’s first review, of an ebook called Controlling Cancer, by evolutionary biologist Paul Ewald. Ewald argues that the best way to reduce the death rate from cancer is to treat it like an infectious disease–which, to a surprising extent, it really is. Check it out.

[Image: Dividing lung cancer cell/NIH]

Originally published February 27, 2012. Copyright 2012 Carl Zimmer.

This post was originally published in “Download the Universe,” a multi-author blog about science ebooks edited by Carl Zimmer.

Controlling Cancer: A Powerful Plan for Taking On the World’s Most Daunting Disease. By Paul Ewald. Published by TED Books, 2012. 

Reviewed by Carl Zimmer

February 27, 2012

Continue reading “The Germ Theory of Cancer”

Joseph LeDoux of New York University has built his career on studying emotions, especially fear. But now he’s arguing that scientists don’t really have a good definition of emotions. In fact, he is issuing a call to avoid using the e-word at all costs. At Txchnologist, I reflect on how we can understand emotions without the emotions. Check it out.

Originally published February 24, 2012. Copyright 2012 Carl Zimmer.