In the New York Times, Douglas Martin has a fine obituary of one of the more intriguing figures in the history of evolutionary biology, Leigh Van Valen:
Continue reading “Leigh Van Valen, RIP: The man behind the Red Queen”
Thanks to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Society for Microbiology for posting the video of my recent lecture in Washington DC, in which I consider how revolution in books 500 years ago can offer us some guidance in the revolution we’re in right now. Afterwards I had a great talk with the audience and people chiming in on Twitter. Check it out!
Originally published October 28, 2010. Copyright 2010 Carl Zimmer.
My new column for Discover is about tinnitus, the ringing in the ears that affects a third of all people at some point in their lives. While tinnitus may seem to like it’s in our ears, its source actually lies deep within our brains–possibly spread across the networks of neurons that make us consciously aware of our lives. The better scientists can appreciate its full reach, the better they may be able to treat it. Check it out.
[Update: Link fixed to take you to the first page of the column, not the second.]
Originally published October 28, 2010. Copyright 2010 Carl Zimmer.
A good end to a stormy day: after the snapping turtles came to our house this summer and laid their eggs, the eggs hatched and the hatchlings became vivacious teenagers. Here’s one that turned up by the front door, which we then rescued from the curiosity of our cats.
Originally published October 27, 2010. Copyright 2010 Carl Zimmer.
Deep in your brain there are probably several thousand neurons that will respond only to the sight of Lady Gaga. Several thousand others probably only crackle to the sight of Justin Bieber. It might be nice to reassign those neurons to loftier thoughts. For now, though, neurology can’t help you. What neurology can do for you (if you’re up for a little invasive brain surgery) is let you use those Gaga and Bieber neurons to control a computer.