Rich writes:

“These are two species of primates that I had tattooed on my forearms. One is a tamarin monkey in honor of Paul Garber (who studies tamarin monkeys), the professor who started me off on the path to becoming a biological anthropologist. The other is a sifaka, my current study species. This tattoo was actually paid for by my advisor, Alison Richard (how cool is that!). Alison promised me a sifaka tattoo once I finished my dissertation. Overall, I have three tattoos, as part of a silly/dorky–but accomplished–plan I came up with my freshman year in college after I decided I wanted to be a primatologist: get one tattoo for each degree I earn. I have a DNA “armband” for my BA; the tamarin monkey is for my MA degree, and the sifaka marks my Ph.D.”

Continue reading “Cousins with Tails” →

I’m sure you’d like to pretend that you have nothing in common with a tapeworm.

A tapeworm starts off as an egg which then develops into a cyst. Inside the cyst is a ball-shaped creature with hooks that it can use to crawl around its host before growing into an adult. Many species are made up of dozens or hundreds of segments called proglottids. Each proglottid may be equipped with both eggs and sperm-making organs. As an adult, a tapeworm also grows a head-like end often equipped with suckers or hooks of its own. This strange organ is called the scolex. (The shark tapeworm in this photo is displaying its fearsome scolex.) While the tapeworm lives in the gut of its host, it uses its scolex to clamp down in place, although it may swim around to find an ideal spot from time to time.

Continue reading “A Tapeworm Mystery: Which Way Is Up?” →

Richard writes, “On my shoulder. Taken from an engraving by Ernest Haekel.”

Carl: Here’s the Wikipedia page on diatoms, those abundant microscopic shell-builders of the sea. And here’s a gallery of Haeckel’s amazing illustrations, many tattoos in the making (and made, in some cases). 

Originally published June 28, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

Science writer Peter Dizikes reviews my book Microcosm for the New York Times. It’s great to see that he gets it–i.e., he understands what I’m trying to do with E. coli in the book. I actually appreciate that more than a positive review. Fortunately, he liked the book, too, calling it engrossing, vivid, and adroit. Check it out. 

Originally published June 28, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.