Julian writes:

“Attached is my tattoo of the 17-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one molecule a.k.a testosterone. I got it a couple of years ago after many years of thinking about getting it. I have a degree in biotechnology and am currently undertaking honours in molecular biology. I am studying the effects of glucocorticoids on fetal lung development.The tat has to do with my love of lifting heavy weights and the most important molecule for that is testosterone. People can take all the synthetic testosterones and steroid derivatives they want but nothing feels better than knowing after a heavy lift that all you used was that which your testes produced.

Continue reading “Anatomy of a Bench-Press” →

I’m heading to Sarasota, Florida, to talk tonight about the evolution of whales. If anybody bearing oranges gives me a hard time, I’ll let you know.

The talk will be part of Mote Marine Laboratory’s public lecture series. Here are the details. If you’re in the neighborhood, come on by. 

Originally published March 10, 2008. Copyright 2008 Carl Zimmer.

Jim describes his tattoo:

“a design of Opabinia regalis, a Burgess Shale fossil dating from the Cambrian. It has some pirate imagery, including the hourglass, skull, and nukes. As an evolutionary dead end, Opabinia reminds me of the diversity and tenacity of life through difficulty (how do you put ‘Ad Astra Per Aspera’ into fossil terms?), and plus it looks awesome.”

Carl: Opabinia is the weirdest of the weird, a creature with five eyes and a single appendage sticking out of its head like the arm of a backhoe. It existed half a billion years ago, and its fossil remains were preserved exquisitely in the Burgess Shale formation of Canada.

Continue reading “Dead Ends and Interesting Aunts” →

How old is the Grand Canyon? One answer is easy: a lot older than a few thousand years. A more precise answer is harder to get at, however. You have to climb into the caves of the Grand Canyon and read the geological clocks hidden there. For more, read my latest “Dissection” commentary at Wired.

Photo: Luca Galluzi at Galuzzi.it [via Wikipedia] 

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