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
Ocean Warming Breaks Record for Ninth Straight Year insideclimatenews.org/news/0901202...
Ocean Warming Breaks Record for Ninth Straight Year - Inside Climate News
Every second of last year, the Earth’s oceans absorbed the equivalent in energy to 12 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs. Global ocean heat content (OHC) increased for the ninth consecutive year in 2025, a...
insideclimatenews.org
January 10, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Ocean Warming Breaks Record for Ninth Straight Year insideclimatenews.org/news/0901202...
Congress Set to Finalize Science Budgets Rejecting Trump Cuts www.aip.org/fyi/congress...
Congress Set to Finalize Science Budgets Rejecting Trump Cuts
The bipartisan deal still reduces funding for many science agencies, including NSF and NASA.
www.aip.org
January 10, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Congress Set to Finalize Science Budgets Rejecting Trump Cuts www.aip.org/fyi/congress...
I talked to @latif.bsky.social at @radiolab.bsky.social about brain organoids for their new episode. Listen here: radiolab.org/podcast/brai...
Brain Balls
Scientists can now grow tiny, human brain balls. They’re useful, but are they alive?
radiolab.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
I talked to @latif.bsky.social at @radiolab.bsky.social about brain organoids for their new episode. Listen here: radiolab.org/podcast/brai...
Chicago, I'm headed your way to talk about the state of science in America. Register here: events.uchicago.edu/event/259056...
January 8, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Chicago, I'm headed your way to talk about the state of science in America. Register here: events.uchicago.edu/event/259056...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Storied newspaper chain McClatchy recently shuttered its Washington bureau and laid off staff. Now its told union leaders it wants to publish AI-generated stories without human review and create AI impersonations of reporters for podcasts.
The scoop in @status.news www.status.news/p/mcclatchy-...
The scoop in @status.news www.status.news/p/mcclatchy-...
McClatchy’s Machine Mindset
A recent meeting with McClatchy executives left union leaders stunned and deeply alarmed about how the company wishes to implement A.I. in the newsroom, Status has learned.
www.status.news
January 8, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Storied newspaper chain McClatchy recently shuttered its Washington bureau and laid off staff. Now its told union leaders it wants to publish AI-generated stories without human review and create AI impersonations of reporters for podcasts.
The scoop in @status.news www.status.news/p/mcclatchy-...
The scoop in @status.news www.status.news/p/mcclatchy-...
Here is my first newsletter of the year, on the destruction of science past and future. buttondown.com/carlzimmer/a...
January 7, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Here is my first newsletter of the year, on the destruction of science past and future. buttondown.com/carlzimmer/a...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
"I’m going to pause here just to review: an institution that purports to be a university has told a philosophy professor he is forbidden from teaching Plato."
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
Texas A&M Bans Plato - Daily Nous
Drop the race and gender material from your course and the Plato readings, or teach a different course. You have a day to decide. That's a paraphrase of what Martin Peterson, professor of philosophy a...
dailynous.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:36 AM
"I’m going to pause here just to review: an institution that purports to be a university has told a philosophy professor he is forbidden from teaching Plato."
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
This is a delightful story as well as impressive science & I love @carlzimmer.com for including this bit (gift link):
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/s...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/s...
January 7, 2026 at 1:59 AM
This is a delightful story as well as impressive science & I love @carlzimmer.com for including this bit (gift link):
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/s...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/s...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
January 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Lizards have evolved their own version of rock-paper-scissors. Here's my story on the genetics behind nature's games. Gift link: nyti.ms/493KGMI
January 6, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Lizards have evolved their own version of rock-paper-scissors. Here's my story on the genetics behind nature's games. Gift link: nyti.ms/493KGMI
Appeals Court Upholds Prohibition on Trump’s Medical Research Cuts. Gift link: nyti.ms/4qDnkmR
nyti.ms
January 6, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Appeals Court Upholds Prohibition on Trump’s Medical Research Cuts. Gift link: nyti.ms/4qDnkmR
Congress set to reject Trump’s major budget cuts to NSF, NASA, and energy science. Story by @policyhound.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...
Congress set to reject Trump’s major budget cuts to NSF, NASA, and energy science
Appropriators agree instead to keep this year’s spending nearly level
www.science.org
January 6, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Congress set to reject Trump’s major budget cuts to NSF, NASA, and energy science. Story by @policyhound.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
1). The US is in the middle of the worst flu season in a decade.
2). Pertussis cases are the highest they have been in 20 years.
3). Measles has rebounded and elimination status has been lost.
RFK.Jr. has not recommended vaccination, instead he is aggressively rolling back vaccine policy.
2). Pertussis cases are the highest they have been in 20 years.
3). Measles has rebounded and elimination status has been lost.
RFK.Jr. has not recommended vaccination, instead he is aggressively rolling back vaccine policy.
January 5, 2026 at 8:42 PM
1). The US is in the middle of the worst flu season in a decade.
2). Pertussis cases are the highest they have been in 20 years.
3). Measles has rebounded and elimination status has been lost.
RFK.Jr. has not recommended vaccination, instead he is aggressively rolling back vaccine policy.
2). Pertussis cases are the highest they have been in 20 years.
3). Measles has rebounded and elimination status has been lost.
RFK.Jr. has not recommended vaccination, instead he is aggressively rolling back vaccine policy.
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
BREAKING: Federal health officials on Monday announced dramatic revisions to the slate of vaccines recommended for American children, reducing the number of diseases prevented by routine shots to 11 from 17.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...
Kennedy Scales Back the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Children
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:01 PM
BREAKING: Federal health officials on Monday announced dramatic revisions to the slate of vaccines recommended for American children, reducing the number of diseases prevented by routine shots to 11 from 17.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/h...
Here's my latest contribution to the @nytimes "Lost Science" series. Brenna Henn's sweeping study of African genetics has been frozen. Gift link: nyti.ms/3Ypmm1A
January 5, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Here's my latest contribution to the @nytimes "Lost Science" series. Brenna Henn's sweeping study of African genetics has been frozen. Gift link: nyti.ms/3Ypmm1A
New York Times obituary for my dad. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/n...
Dick Zimmer, N.J. Congressman Who Sponsored Megan’s Law, Dies at 81
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:38 PM
New York Times obituary for my dad. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/n...
My dad died last night. Here's a story that came out today about his career in politics. newjerseyglobe.com/in-memoriam/...
Dick Zimmer, former congressman and U.S. Senate contender, dies at 81 - New Jersey Globe
Richard A. Zimmer, a three-term Republican congressman from Hunterdon County and longtime state legislator who ran a competitive race for U.S. Senate in
newjerseyglobe.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:05 PM
My dad died last night. Here's a story that came out today about his career in politics. newjerseyglobe.com/in-memoriam/...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Eight years ago, the US govt's malaria program took over the fight against the disease in northern Cameroon, one of the worst-affected places in the world, and went at it with all guns blazing. In March, it shut down overnight. I traveled there to see what came next. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/h...
How Cameroon Fought to Save Its Malaria Program After the U.S. Cut Critical Funding
www.nytimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Eight years ago, the US govt's malaria program took over the fight against the disease in northern Cameroon, one of the worst-affected places in the world, and went at it with all guns blazing. In March, it shut down overnight. I traveled there to see what came next. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/h...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
I spoke with @carlzimmer.com about our terminated grant on wildfire smoke and homes:
The @nytimes.com Lost Science series continues. Here's my Q&A with a scientist who was studying how wildfire smoke threatens human health when the EPA decided that her research was no longer a funding priority. Gift link: nyti.ms/4jhpw14
December 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I spoke with @carlzimmer.com about our terminated grant on wildfire smoke and homes:
The @nytimes.com Lost Science series continues. Here's my Q&A with a scientist who was studying how wildfire smoke threatens human health when the EPA decided that her research was no longer a funding priority. Gift link: nyti.ms/4jhpw14
December 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The @nytimes.com Lost Science series continues. Here's my Q&A with a scientist who was studying how wildfire smoke threatens human health when the EPA decided that her research was no longer a funding priority. Gift link: nyti.ms/4jhpw14
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
On DOGE’s watch, federal spending did not go down at all. It went up. But is still led to cuts that closed offices, canceled programs and deprived people of food, medicine and other aid.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
On DOGE’s watch, federal spending did not go down at all. It went up. But is still led to cuts that closed offices, canceled programs and deprived people of food, medicine and other aid.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Well, they've finally found their excuse for blocking all offshore wind: a Defense Department report says they create problems. What problems? Sorry, it's classified!
I wish I were making this up.
I wish I were making this up.
The Trump Administration Protects U.S. National Security by Pausing Offshore Wind Leases | U.S. Department of the Interior
The Department of the Interior announced today that it is pausing—effective immediately—the leases for all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the United States due to national se...
www.doi.gov
December 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Well, they've finally found their excuse for blocking all offshore wind: a Defense Department report says they create problems. What problems? Sorry, it's classified!
I wish I were making this up.
I wish I were making this up.
American food safety could be headed for a breakdown. Story by @sarah-todd.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/a...
American food safety could be headed for a breakdown
More Americans will be exposed to foodborne illness as a result of this year's funding cuts, food safety experts predict
www.statnews.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
American food safety could be headed for a breakdown. Story by @sarah-todd.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/12/22/a...
Scientists scanned people in an fMRI as they listened to me talk about my book She Has Her Mother's Laugh. I altered their brains! (Or at least my semantics did...)
December 22, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Scientists scanned people in an fMRI as they listened to me talk about my book She Has Her Mother's Laugh. I altered their brains! (Or at least my semantics did...)
Reposted by Carl Zimmer
Study in Helsinki indicating benefits of portable air cleaners on lowering infection risk in daycare centers, less absences & parent absences from work in intervention vs. reference (no air cleaner) groups. Cleaning indoor air is not difficult and it works.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The effect of room air cleaners on infection control in day care centres
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of air cleaning in reducing the risk of respiratory infection in two day care centres using a si…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Study in Helsinki indicating benefits of portable air cleaners on lowering infection risk in daycare centers, less absences & parent absences from work in intervention vs. reference (no air cleaner) groups. Cleaning indoor air is not difficult and it works.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...