The Body
A Virus, Fished out of a Lake, May Have Saved a Man's Life
Phage therapy is not approved for regular use by the FDA
Stories by Carl Zimmer
Public Health
Scientists Wonder If the Common Cold May at Last Be Beatable
After decades of disappointment there is a new flurry of vaccine activity
Biology
When DNA Differences Matter
A deep-dive into a massive genetic database is helping researchers understand secrets about the fundamental biology that we all share
Health
Experimental Drugs Target Bacteria’s Social Network
Evolutionary biologists are trying to attack bacteria in a new way: by short-circuiting their social life
The Sciences
The Oldest Rocks on Earth
One team of scientists thinks ancient rocks discovered in northern Canada give us a window onto the planet's infancy and the birth of life itself. Another team thinks they're not that special...
The Sciences
The Surprising Origins of Evolutionary Complexity
Scientists are exploring how organisms can evolve elaborate structures without Darwinian selection
Evolution
Ecosystems on the Brink
To keep jellyfish, fungi and other creatures from overtaking healthy habitats, scientists are exploring food webs and tipping points
Mind
100 Trillion Connections: New Efforts Probe and Map the Brain's Detailed Architecture
The noise of billions of brain cells trying to communicate with one another may hold a crucial clue to understanding consciousness
Mind
Can You Live Forever? Maybe Not--But You Can Have Fun Trying
In this chapter from his new e-book, journalist Carl Zimmer tries to reconcile the visions of techno-immortalists with the exigencies imposed by real-world biology
The Sciences
Searching for Intelligence in Our Genes
IQ is easy to measure and reflects something real. But scientists hunting among our genes for the factors that shape intelligence are discovering they are more elusive than expected
Health
Evolved for Cancer?
Natural selection lacks the power to erase cancer from our species and, some scientists argue, may even have provided tools that help tumors grow
Sustainability
What Is a Species?
To this day, scientists struggle with that question. A better definition can influence which animals make the endangered list
The Sciences
Evolved for Cancer?
Natural selection lacks the power to erase cancer from our species and, some scientists argue, may even have provided tools that help tumors grow
Mind
The Neurobiology of the Self
Biologists are beginning to tease out how the brain gives rise to a constant sense of being oneself
The Sciences
Faith-Boosting Genes
A search for the genetic basis of spirituality
The Sciences
Dinos and Darwin
Just how important were the discoveries of dinosaur fossils?
