Now we come to the third winning question about Microcosm. Kenatiod writes,

Long ago, in bacteriology class, the teacher (an ex-nun at an ex-Catholic college) was telling us about the type “F” pili that are used to pass DNA so coli can have sex. One of the students asked “Why do they call them type F?” The teacher started to answer, but stopped, and then she turned bright red. The class start laughing, and then she did as well, and then someone asked, “What other kinds of pili are there?” She pulled herself together, said “Thank you” and class continued.

Continue reading “Microcosm Winner #3: How Long Has E. coli Been So Sexy?” →

Here’s the second winning question about Microcosm, from Kevin:

E. coli is a bacteria commonly found in the intestines of some animals. What distinguishes the common and harmless strains from those that can cause illness and death?

A lot of people asked this question in the contest. But my sense is that most people think that E. coli is just a nasty germ. When I would tell people I was going to write about E. coli, they thought I was going to pen an expose of the food industry. It came as a surprise to them when I told them that they were carrying billions of E. coli inside them. [More below the fold…]

Continue reading “Microcosm Winner #2: Why Are Some E. coli Good and Some Bad?” →

Ryan writes, “I am a big astronomy buff and this is a depiction of an eclipse with the Eagle Nebula and one of the angelic spires within it.”

Carl: Check out this site at NASA for more pictures and some background about these staggering towers of light.

Click here to go to the full Science Tattoo Emporium. 

Originally published May 9, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

If you’re just tuning in, on Tuesday I offered five free signed copies of my new book Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life to readers if they sent in a question. I was quite stoked to see the huge reaction. I can tell from the quality of the questions that the sheer volume was not just the result of the lust for a free book. While I can only answer five questions today, I think most people who asked one will find that parts of the book touch on it.

So–without further ado, let’s dive in. (This is the first of five posts I’ll deliver today.)

Continue reading “Microcosm Winner #1: Why E. coli?” →

Thanks to everyone who submitted the 240 or so questions about Microcosm, E. coli, and life in general. I’ll pick five of them tonight and answer them tomorrow and start signing copies for the winners. And if you didn’t enter, why not considering getting a copy anyway? 

Originally published May 8, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.