Ugh. Several days, pretty much day and night, going over the copy-edited Microcosm manuscript with a green pencil. I haven’t had any time to write any original blog posts–or even reply to most of my email. But I can at least point you to three articles of mine that went online while I was buried deep in dangling participles. Looking at them now, I see a common theme: comparison.
1. The Internet and E. coli. Some of the most intriguing papers I’ve read about E. coli while researching Microcosm came from an engineer. John Doyle is a control theory expert at CalTech who has spent lots of time over the years figuring out ways to make airplanes, helicopters, and other complicated machines stable. He’s been applying some of his ideas to new systems, like the Internet and E. coli. The ability that E. coli has to thrive despite times of famine, occasional hot flashes, and gene-crippling mutations, has a lot in common with the ability of the Internet to deliver this blog to you. I spent a couple days with John in Pasadena to find out about this connection, and more. The story that came out of it is in the November issue of Discover, which has just put it online.
2. Sleep, Little Birdie, Sleep. The New York Times just put together a special package of stories about sleep. My contribution is a follow-up on a 2005 article on sleep in other animals. This time I focused on new research on birds, which sleep a lot like us in some ways, and not so much in others. They’re masters of the ten-second power nap. Check it out.
3. The 150-Year-Old Baby. The people at Best Life, a men’s magazine, recently asked me to write an article about getting old. I was pleasantly surprised by their reaction to my first draft of the article: more science! he articles revolves around a bet two experts on aging have, that someone alive today is going to reach 150. Like my bird sleep article, the Best Life article pays close attention to what we can learn about human aging by comparing ourselves to other animals. I could have gotten into how E. coli gets old, tooE. coli gets old, too, but, hey, everything can’t be about E. coli….or maybe it can.
Go Further
Animals
- How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Environment
- Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?
- The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Travel
- Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico