A planet of viruses by carl zimmer book

Im a bit of a virology fangirl, and am, thus, ridiculously excited about this newsboing boing maggie koerthbaker boing boing. The washington post viruses are the smallest living things known to science, and yet they hold the entire planet in their sway. Even the human genome contains genes that came from viruses which infected our ancestors some 30m years ago, an idea that zimmer. In his book a planet of viruses, science writer carl zimmer catalogs a menagerie of viruses, from the bacteriophages that prey on oceandwelling. In 2011, i published the first edition of a planet of viruses. They are the smallest living things known to science, yet they can hold the entire planet in their sway. Carl zimmer born 1966 is a popular science writer, blogger, columnist, and journalist who specializes in the topics of evolution, parasites, and heredity. A planet of viruses by carl zimmer books the guardian. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a planet of viruses.

Dividing the svelte volume into ten essays, award winning science journalist and author carl zimmer provides an overview of the myriad ways that viruses play a powerful role in the natural. If youre looking for a light, but entertaining book about viruses, look no further than a planet of viruses by carl zimmer. The previous 12 months has been considered one of viral panicpanic about viruses, thats. Through headlines, public health warnings, and at least one homemade hazmat suit, we were reminded of the powerful force of viruses. This fascinating book explores the hidden world of virusesa world that we all inhabit. In the compact a planet of viruses, zimmer marshals his treasure of insights and provides us a sweeping introduction to this fascinating, if ineluctably unnerving world. Zimmer, the popular science writer and author of national. A planet of viruses is sure to please his many fans and further enhance his reputation as one of americas most respected and admired science journalists.

Whether hes exploring how viruses come to america or picking apart the surprisingly complicated common cold, zimmers. In a place in which there are enormous crystals but little apparent life, he shows that samples of the water taken in 2009 revealed the presence of millions. He reshapes our understanding of the hidden realities at the core of everyday existence. Youll discover how our understanding of these tiny, abundant organisms has evolved over time and how our lives are influenced by them, from their power to. A planet of viruses is sure to please his many fans and further enhance his reputation as one of epub americas most respected and admired science journalists. Most people just know them as the cause of suffering around the world, from the aids epidemic to the common cold. Book excerpt from a planet of viruses by carl zimmer. We are most familiar with the viruses that give us colds or the flu, but viruses also cause a vast range of other.

Each selection from his book is accompanied by an introductory essay by carl zimmer, reflecting on the history of darwins ideas about humans, and what twentyfirst century science has to say about them. Carl zimmer is one of the best science writers we have today. The title of this book is a planet of viruses and it was written by carl zimmer. While the book is a compilation of wellconnected short essays, a format that suits the material well. We are most familiar with the viruses that give us colds or the flu, but viruses also cause a vast range of other diseases, including one disorder that makes people sprout branchlike growths as if they were. A a planet of viruses is sure to please his many fans and further enhance his reputation as one of americas most respected and admired science journalists. Viruses are all around us, in the water we drink, in the oceans we swim in, and in many unlikely places. We are most familiar with the viruses that give us colds or. A planet of viruses by carl zimmer read online on bookmate. Whether hes exploring how viruses come to america or picking apart the surprisingly complicated common cold, zimmers train.

In this compact volume, he tells the story of how the smallest living things known to science can bring an entire planet of people to a haltand what we can learn from how weve defeated them in the past. Not so much a single narrative but a collection of essays on this unusual. Here carl zimmer, popular science writer and author of discover magazines awardwinning blog the loom, presents the latest research on how viruses hold sway over our lives and our biosphere, how viruses helped give rise to the first lifeforms, how viruses are producing new diseases, how we can harness viruses for our own ends, and how. A planet of viruses is an important primer on the viruses living within and around all of ussometimes funny, other times shocking, and always accessible. Explore the hidden world of viruses, a world that each of us inhabits. Carl zimmer starts his book of essays, a planet of viruses, by taking us deep into the cave of crystals in a remote province of mexico. Even if you have an active interest in viruses, this book will still provide new information and stories about scientists and discovery. My friend karim and myself, have had the privilege of translating carl zimmers latest book into french, that is, the second edition of a planet of viruses. A planet of viruses 2nd edition by carl zimmer free. A planet of viruses by carl zimmer, 9780226983356, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A planet of viruses part of the world of viruses project funded by the nih concisely presents why the scientific view of viruses has been changing.

He is also a lecturer at yale university, where he teaches writing about science and the environment. Via headlines, public well being warnings, and no less than one doityourself hazmat swimsuit, we have been reminded of the highly effective power of viruses. Whether hes exploring how viruses come to america or picking apart the surprisingly complicated common cold, zimmer s train of thought is concise and illuminating. Zimmer, the popular science writer and author of national geographics awardwinning blog the loom, has updated this edition to include the stories of new outbreaks, such as ebola, mers, and chikungunya virus. Second edition, carl zimmer is published by university of chicago press.

Fortunately, science writer carl zimmer is here to guide us. A planet of viruses by carl zimmer by pd smith pd smith. When faced with a cold, ancient egyptians used herbs, incense and honey around their nose. At 96 pagesmany of which are used for photos of virusesthe book provides only the briefest primer on the fascinating science of virology. A planet of viruses book south san francisco public. In his fascinating new book, author carl zimmer explores the viruses living within and around us. Whether hes exploring how viruses come to america or picking apart the surprisingly complicated common cold, zimmers train of thought is concise and. Carl zimmer planet of viruses in english podcast science. Buy a cheap copy of a planet of viruses book by carl zimmer. A planet of viruses book by carl zimmer thriftbooks. A planet of viruses by carl zimmer 9780226294209 booktopia. Whether discussing the common cold and flu, littleknown viruses that attack bacteria or protect oceans, or the worlds viral future as seen through our encounters with hiv. A planet of viruses is carl zimmers eyeopening look at the hidden world of viruses.

A planet of viruses by carl zimmer a planet of viruses 2011 takes you on a whirlwind tour into the hidden world of viruses. It was published by university of chicago press and has a total of 109 pages in the book. A planet of viruses book summary carl zimmer mattygtv. In a planet of viruses, science writer carl zimmer accomplishes in a mere 100 pages what other authors struggle to do in 500.

Viruses are the smallest living things known to science, yet t. Second edition, zimmer all chicago ebooks are on sale at 30% off with the code ebook30. A planet of viruses by carl zimmer, 9780226294209, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Viruses are the smallest living things known to science, yet they hold the entire planet in their sway. He is a fellow at yale universitys morse college and adjunct professor of molecular biophysics and. But while many scientists consider viruses too simple to actually be classified as life, the research presented in a planet of viruses shows the incredibly complex nature of their relationship with life on earth. Here carl zimmer, popular science writer and author of. With lively writing and fascinating detailsif you put all the viruses of the oceans on a scale, they would equal the weight of 75 million blue whalesits a gripping and educational read. A planet of viruses by carl zimmer the university of.

A planet of viruses reveals how viruses hold sway over the biosphere. Carl zimmer is one of my absolute favorite science writers, and hes about to come out with a new book called a planet of viruses. Thats how carl zimmer starts out his informative, well written, book a planet of viruses. We are most familiar with the viruses that give us colds or the flu, but viruses also cause a vast range of other diseases, including one disorder that makes people sprout branchlike growths as if they were trees. I didnt realize they used this book as a textbook, even though ive read zimmers work before.