Jim writes, “This radiolarian (of the Polycyttaria) represents for me the staggering complexity, beauty and wonder of life. That such an amazing looking critter can evolve, and be so amazingly intricate and small blows my mind. I love talking science, and so far (have had it for less than 24 hours) heaps of people have asked, ‘That is great; what is it?’ And after the brief explanation, they are always amazed.”

Here are drawings of Polycyttaria by Haeckel. And here is an entire web site dedicated to radiolarians.

Click here to go to the full Science Tattoo Emporium. 

Originally published December 6, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

I was in New York yesterday to give a talk about evolution, which was simultaneously a Rockefeller University Science and Media Series Lecture, and a New York Skeptics Society Public Lecture. We had a great turn-out: as I told the crowd, there’s nothing a public speaker likes to see more than a serious fire hazard. The talk was recorded, and I’m hoping soon to be able to direct you to it.

One of the many reasons I enjoy giving these lectures is that I can meet people before and after my talk. Yesterday I met a number of interesting folks, including Alexis Gambis, who somehow manages, all at once, to pursue a Ph.D. by researching neurons, make science-themed movies, and even run a festival of science movies.

Continue reading “The Search For the Great Science Fiction Movie (or, I Am Doooomed)” →

Alice writes, “This is an Aztec speech glyph that dates back before the conquest. I’m a linguist, and I believe this glyph embodies the impossible elegance of spoken language as well as the intrinsically artificial and cumbersome nature of written language.”

Click here to go to the full Science Tattoo Emporium. 

Originally published December 5, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

Billy, a psychology major, writes: “I love all forms of science, my favorite being evolutionary biology. So I decided to get this tattoo of Charles Darwin with a mohawk. I put a mohawk on him because I love punk rock music, and view him as revolutionary.”

Click here to go to the full Science Tattoo Emporium. 

Originally published December 4, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

If you live in New York, please come join me tomorrow night at 7 for a free lecture called, “The Darwin Beat: Reporting from the Frontiers of Evolution.” I’ll be talking about what I think is most exciting in evolutionary biology these days, as well as the interesting position a journalist ends up in by reporting on the topic–such as getting letters from people who tell you Satan has blinded you to the truth. I guarantee deadly snakes, zombie cockroaches, creationist throw-pillows, and a couple Darwinian tattoos (although they won’t actually be on my own skin).

And it’s free!

Continue reading “Reminder: Free Lecture Tomorrow in New York” →