Carl Zimmer
@carlzimmer.com
NYT columnist. Signal: carlzimmer.51
Newsletter: https://buttondown.com/carlzimmer/
Web: http://carlzimmer.com
[This account includes a tweet archive]
Newsletter: https://buttondown.com/carlzimmer/
Web: http://carlzimmer.com
[This account includes a tweet archive]
Pinned
Carl Zimmer
@carlzimmer.com
· Mar 9
!["Take a Deep Breath. If You Dare." In “Air-Borne,” his detailed and gripping account of aerobiology, Carl Zimmer uncovers the mysteries filling our lungs. [Illustration with viruses and people in masks]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xqrqlxsfingcrocs7dut7rav/bafkreiasqnph6e3kep5yv7fqs4ppyuez4yz764xtlexcbez5e4topye2xm@jpeg)
"Air-Borne shows us the ways seeing where we live means listening deeply — and being prepared to see what’s perhaps never been seen.“ Grateful for this perceptive review from Robert Sullivan in the New York Times Book Review. Gift link: nyti.ms/3XAWM9E
I have a story today about interoception--a kind of sixth sense that delivers information from within our bodies to our brains. nyti.ms/4rfTDtn
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I have a story today about interoception--a kind of sixth sense that delivers information from within our bodies to our brains. nyti.ms/4rfTDtn
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
3 infant #pertussis deaths this year in Kentucky. "Of the three infant deaths reported over the past 12 months, all three were not vaccinated, nor were their mothers."
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
www.wowktv.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:27 AM
3 infant #pertussis deaths this year in Kentucky. "Of the three infant deaths reported over the past 12 months, all three were not vaccinated, nor were their mothers."
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
Here is the C-SPAN video of my talk at the Miami Book Fair yesterday with Simon Winchester about our mysterious atmosphere www.c-span.org/program/book...
Authors Discuss Studies on the Wind and Atmosphere
Authors Simon Winchester ([The Breath of Gods] and Carl Zimmer ([Air-Borne]) discussed their studies on the power of the wind and Earth's atmosphere. This event took place at the 2025 Miami Book Fair.
www.c-span.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Here is the C-SPAN video of my talk at the Miami Book Fair yesterday with Simon Winchester about our mysterious atmosphere www.c-span.org/program/book...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Origins of language, one of humanity’s most distinctive traits, may be best explained as a unique convergence of multiple capacities each with its own evolutionary history, involving intertwined roles of biology & culture. This framing can expand research horizons. A 🧵 on our @science.org paper.🧪1/n
What enables human language? A biocultural framework
Explaining the origins of language is a key challenge in understanding ourselves as a species. We present an empirical framework that draws on synergies across fields to facilitate robust studies of l...
www.science.org
November 23, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Origins of language, one of humanity’s most distinctive traits, may be best explained as a unique convergence of multiple capacities each with its own evolutionary history, involving intertwined roles of biology & culture. This framing can expand research horizons. A 🧵 on our @science.org paper.🧪1/n
I’ll be at @miamibookfair.bsky.social Sunday for 2 events. 11 am: a talk with Tom Frieden about the future of public health. 1:30 pm: Simon Winchester and I talk about the air—the subject of both our new books. www.miamibookfair.com My talk with SW will be livestreamed: www.mdc.edu/livestream/
home - Miami Book Fair
... Read More
www.miamibookfair.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I’ll be at @miamibookfair.bsky.social Sunday for 2 events. 11 am: a talk with Tom Frieden about the future of public health. 1:30 pm: Simon Winchester and I talk about the air—the subject of both our new books. www.miamibookfair.com My talk with SW will be livestreamed: www.mdc.edu/livestream/
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“Embarrassing” and “horrifying”: CDC workers describe the new vaccines and autism page
"The best way I can put it is it feels like we're on a hijacked airplane."
www.motherjones.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”
“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
The second report of the UK COVID Inquiry is out. The two volumes are here: covid19.public-inquiry.uk/documents/mo...
The section on "The focus on handwashing over ventilation" begins in section 12.32 of the second volume (page 167 in the PDF of voume 2).
#itsairborne #COVID #longCOVID #aerosol
The section on "The focus on handwashing over ventilation" begins in section 12.32 of the second volume (page 167 in the PDF of voume 2).
#itsairborne #COVID #longCOVID #aerosol
Module 2, 2A, 2B, 2C Report - Core decision-making and political governance UK Covid-19 Inquiry Archives
A report by The Rt Hon the Baroness Hallett DBE, Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on the core decision-making and political governance, dated 20 November 2025.
covid19.public-inquiry.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The second report of the UK COVID Inquiry is out. The two volumes are here: covid19.public-inquiry.uk/documents/mo...
The section on "The focus on handwashing over ventilation" begins in section 12.32 of the second volume (page 167 in the PDF of voume 2).
#itsairborne #COVID #longCOVID #aerosol
The section on "The focus on handwashing over ventilation" begins in section 12.32 of the second volume (page 167 in the PDF of voume 2).
#itsairborne #COVID #longCOVID #aerosol
"At this time, I suggest the general public avoid the CDC website." --epidemiologist @kkjetelina.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
One of CDC’s final blows. And what it means for you.
Where to find trusted health information now?
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
"At this time, I suggest the general public avoid the CDC website." --epidemiologist @kkjetelina.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/yourloca...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Scientists tell Americans not to trust the CDC.
Instead of a global leader in science, the CDC has devolved into “a propaganda machine for RFK Jr.'s fixed, immutable, science-resistant theories,” said @pauloffit.bsky.social.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Instead of a global leader in science, the CDC has devolved into “a propaganda machine for RFK Jr.'s fixed, immutable, science-resistant theories,” said @pauloffit.bsky.social.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
After unprecedented autism-vaccine messaging change, scientists, advocates say CDC no longer trustworthy
www.cidrap.umn.edu
November 20, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Scientists tell Americans not to trust the CDC.
Instead of a global leader in science, the CDC has devolved into “a propaganda machine for RFK Jr.'s fixed, immutable, science-resistant theories,” said @pauloffit.bsky.social.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Instead of a global leader in science, the CDC has devolved into “a propaganda machine for RFK Jr.'s fixed, immutable, science-resistant theories,” said @pauloffit.bsky.social.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Halted NIH Clinical Trials List Reveals Slashed Treatments for Cancer, COVID and Minority Health. By @danvergano.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/halt...
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Halted NIH Clinical Trials List Reveals Slashed Treatments for Cancer, COVID and Minority Health. By @danvergano.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/halt...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Yup. In the one I received, I would just be offering a token of appreciation; enough to cover the coffee they drank while reading my book 🤨
November 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Yup. In the one I received, I would just be offering a token of appreciation; enough to cover the coffee they drank while reading my book 🤨
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Cassidy sat with @punchbowlnews.bsky.social today, where Anna Palmer asked if RFK Jr has abandoned his promises to the senator.
Cassidy dodged the question, talking broadly about the tragedy of failing vaccination rates and declining public trust.
Cassidy dodged the question, talking broadly about the tragedy of failing vaccination rates and declining public trust.
November 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Cassidy sat with @punchbowlnews.bsky.social today, where Anna Palmer asked if RFK Jr has abandoned his promises to the senator.
Cassidy dodged the question, talking broadly about the tragedy of failing vaccination rates and declining public trust.
Cassidy dodged the question, talking broadly about the tragedy of failing vaccination rates and declining public trust.
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Yeah, these are super weird. I’ve gotten four or five now, and the over-the-top-ness of the praise is wild. Also a tell, since any human who had met writers would know that we mostly think our own work is pretty bad and suspect that people who say they don’t have an agenda.
I never expected that AI would flood authors with scam emails from "private" "communities" of "readers." One of many examples from the past few weeks:
November 20, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Yeah, these are super weird. I’ve gotten four or five now, and the over-the-top-ness of the praise is wild. Also a tell, since any human who had met writers would know that we mostly think our own work is pretty bad and suspect that people who say they don’t have an agenda.
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Yep I get these too
I never expected that AI would flood authors with scam emails from "private" "communities" of "readers." One of many examples from the past few weeks:
November 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Yep I get these too
I never expected that AI would flood authors with scam emails from "private" "communities" of "readers." One of many examples from the past few weeks:
November 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I never expected that AI would flood authors with scam emails from "private" "communities" of "readers." One of many examples from the past few weeks:
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 2:26 AM
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
Trump Moves to Weaken the Endangered Species Act--Four proposed rules could make it easier to drill for oil or harvest timber in areas where endangered species live. Story by @maxinejoselow.bsky.social & @catrineinhorn.bsky.social Gift link: nyti.ms/4pi6adI
nyti.ms
November 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Trump Moves to Weaken the Endangered Species Act--Four proposed rules could make it easier to drill for oil or harvest timber in areas where endangered species live. Story by @maxinejoselow.bsky.social & @catrineinhorn.bsky.social Gift link: nyti.ms/4pi6adI
In AIR-BORNE, I wrote about the reluctance many scientists had to acknowledge Covid can float to new hosts. Now it looks like something similar may be happening with bird flu, which may be blowing from farm to farm. Story in @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/bird...
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vacci...
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
In AIR-BORNE, I wrote about the reluctance many scientists had to acknowledge Covid can float to new hosts. Now it looks like something similar may be happening with bird flu, which may be blowing from farm to farm. Story in @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/bird...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
So excited for the latest edition of “Evolution: Making Sense of Life” by @carlzimmer.com & Doug Emlen. Students in my evolution class regularly tell me it’s the best textbook they’ve had in a college course.
November 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM
So excited for the latest edition of “Evolution: Making Sense of Life” by @carlzimmer.com & Doug Emlen. Students in my evolution class regularly tell me it’s the best textbook they’ve had in a college course.
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Read Air-Borne by Carl Zimmer ...a great read, a fascinating and even amusing, important history. Recent. Helpfully a lighter actual weight than it looks. It followed my read of Florence Nightingale by Mark Brostridge. How do such writers condense so much first class research into a cracking read?👌
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Read Air-Borne by Carl Zimmer ...a great read, a fascinating and even amusing, important history. Recent. Helpfully a lighter actual weight than it looks. It followed my read of Florence Nightingale by Mark Brostridge. How do such writers condense so much first class research into a cracking read?👌
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
finished just before the sun went down, thank you @carlzimmer.com for this, I was not expecting a lot of what I learned in this book, I was not expecting to cry in the final pages, I will be thinking about it all for a good while
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 AM
finished just before the sun went down, thank you @carlzimmer.com for this, I was not expecting a lot of what I learned in this book, I was not expecting to cry in the final pages, I will be thinking about it all for a good while
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
NEW: Jenna Norton, an NIH employee who is openly critical of Trump & RFK Jr, has been put on "non-disciplinary" administrative leave. She says the administration is trying to "scare and silence me." An HHS official, asked to comment, called her a radical leftist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
N.I.H. Worker Who Criticized Trump Health Policies Says She Is on Administrative Leave
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:56 AM
NEW: Jenna Norton, an NIH employee who is openly critical of Trump & RFK Jr, has been put on "non-disciplinary" administrative leave. She says the administration is trying to "scare and silence me." An HHS official, asked to comment, called her a radical leftist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Conceptual and methodological flaws undermine claims of a link between the gut microbiome and autism
Claims that the gut microbiome causally contributes to autism regularly appear in
the scientific literature and popular press. Mitchell et al. critically examine influential
studies underpinning these...
www.cell.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Thanks to everyone who ordered signed books last week! I still have some copies left of Air-Borne and Life's Edge that I can autograph. Fill out this form if you'd like one (or two!) for the gift-giving season. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Thanks to everyone who ordered signed books last week! I still have some copies left of Air-Borne and Life's Edge that I can autograph. Fill out this form if you'd like one (or two!) for the gift-giving season. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...