Carl Zimmer
Science Writer
Award-winning science writer Carl Zimmer explores the frontiers of biology in his writing. His work appears regularly in The New York Times and many magazines, and he is the author of ten books, including, most recently, A Planet of Viruses.
Zimmer is a contributing editor and columnist for Discover, and his award-winning blog, The Loom, appears on the magazine’s web site. He has won the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Science Journalism Award twice, in 2004 and 2009.
Past Events
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The Mind after Midnight:
We spend a third of our lives asleep. Every organism on Earth—from rats to dolphins to fruit flies to microorganisms—relies on sleep for its survival, yet science is still wrestling with a fundamental question: Why does sleep exist? We delved into the one-eyed, half-brained sleep of some animals; eavesdropped on dreams to understand their cognitive significance; and investigated extreme and bizarre sleeping behaviors like “sleep sex” and “sleep violence.”
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Science & Story: The Art of Communicating Science Across All Media
Bringing the drama of science to life for a broad audience is a vital cultural challenge. In a series of vibrant programs, hear how some of the foremost interpreters of science are using their narrative crafts to shift science to its rightful place at the cultural center.
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Modern MacGyvers: Innovations for a Developing World
Carl Zimmer engages with Pamela Ronald and Bevil Conway, as well as biologists, inventors and engineers whose scientific innovations are addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
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Pioneers in Science 2010
Nobel laureate and NASA astrophysicist John Mather meets live and online with local New York City-area students and others in a discussion hosted by Carl Zimmer.
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Picturing Earth: The Story of Life in Images
Witness the power of legendary National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting’s breathtaking images of life on Earth from its earliest beginnings to its present diversity.
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WALL-E’s World: Designs for an Invisible Footprint
Carl Zimmer hosts leading scientists Mitchell Joachim, Christopher McKay and Ben Schwegler as they explore ingenious strategies for creating a sustainable future.
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Seeds, Survival, Stalin
Peter Pringle, acclaimed journalist and author of The Murder of Nikolai Vavilov, joined Robert Goodman, Executive Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, to explore strategies for ensuring the survival of the planet’s botanical heritage.
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Bioart in the Age of Terrorism
This collaboration with Eyebeam Art & Technology Center was a provocative and timely exploration of controversial questions about the use of bio-materials as a medium for artistic expression.
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Blog Posts
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The Curious Symmetry of Sleep
Not long ago, I woke up in a hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Waking up for me is a slow climb, and so I was still a bit bleary by the time I reached the front desk. I was checking my bags for the day, which I would be spending at a conference nearby, when I noticed a familiar face out of the corner of my eye—a face that resembled a bespectacled Viggo Mortensen. Not having self-administered my morning dose of caffeine, I couldn’t quite make out who he was. The man had walked out of view towards the hotel dining room by the time my brain clicked. His name was Giulio Tononi, a scientist who studies sleep.
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Animals Like Us
What is it that makes us humans unique? Is it our capacity to learn language? To cooperate on a vast scale and build civilizations? To make fun of celebrities? To answer all those questions (except maybe the last one), scientists don't limit their research to our own species. We may be special, but our specialness evolved. If you look at other animals, you can find echoes of our own faculties. Depending on the species, though, you'll find different faculties. Read »
