Loyal readers need no introduction to this bit of entomological “Faces of Death.” Others who think this must be some sort of hoax, read this (or this).
Courtesy of Dr. Fred Liebersat, oracle of the emerald cockroach wasp.
Originally published March 10, 2006. Copyright 2006 Carl Zimmer.
The New York Times, March 10, 2006
It would be hard to imagine a better time for these two important books to appear. The science of global warming has been making dramatic headlines.
NASA scientists recently reported that 2005 was the hottest year on record. Researchers studying the oldest core of Greenland ice yet extracted have also reported that there is more heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than at any other point in the past 650,000 years. The vast majority of climate scientists agree that if we continue pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere the world’s temperature will climb significantly, and new computer models project a grim scenario of droughts and rising sea levels.
Continue reading “2 books parse the puzzle of global warming”
The Discovery Channel picked up my cockroach zombie story and interviewed Dr. Fred Liebersat on his research. They included some cool footage of the roach and its sinister wasp brain surgeon. To watch, go to their archives and scroll to “Roach-o-rama.”
Unfortunately, there’s no footage of young wasps poking their heads out of their cockroach hosts, but perhaps that was too hard to catch. Or maybe just too disturbing…
Originally published March 10, 2006. Copyright 2006 Carl Zimmer.
Enceladus, a tiny moon of Saturn, suddenly gets interesting. It may be spewing liquid water. And since the only life we know of needs liquid water–and since Enceladus may now be the second place we know of in the solar system with liquid water–I want to buy a ticket there. Details and pictures here.
Originally published March 9, 2006. Copyright 2006 Carl Zimmer.
I’ve revisited the wrist walker story after a scientist involved accused me of spreading “empty gossip.” I don’t agree with that charge, but I do think I should retract some of what I wrote. But I’ve still got some nagging questions about the whole affair. Check it out.
Originally published March 9, 2006. Copyright 2006 Carl Zimmer.