Carl Zimmer
Carl Zimmer is a science journalist who writes the Origins column for The New York Times and covers news about science. He has written over 14 books about science, including She Has Her Mother's Laugh, Life's Edge, and Parasite Rex. He is also a professor adjunct at Yale's Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry where he teaches seminars on writing and biology lecture courses. Zimmer has won numerous awards including the National Academics Communication Award and the Stephen Jay Gould Prize. During the Covid-19 pandemic, his coverage contributed to The Times winning the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2021.
Biography:
https://www.nytimes.com/by/carl-zimmer
83%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
95%
Examples:
- The author has a tendency to present information in a balanced and objective manner.
- There are no examples of the author expressing personal opinions or beliefs that could influence their reporting.
Conflicts of Interest
76%
Examples:
- The author has no known financial or other ties to companies they may write about in their coverage of biotechnology.
- There are no instances of the author accepting speaking fees from potential subjects of their reporting.
Contradictions
87%
Examples:
- In one article, it was stated that woolly mammoths suffered from genetic disorders due to inbreeding for 6,000 years while in another it was mentioned that the last woolly mammoths on Earth existed on a remote Arctic island about 4,000 years ago.
- There are instances where contradictory information is provided without clear clarification or resolution.
Deceptions
79%
Examples:
- In one article, it was implied that women are at higher risk for autoimmune diseases without providing any supporting data.
- There is an instance where the author provides misleading information about a study published on Thursday offering an explanation rooted in the X chromosome without providing enough information to support this claim.
Recent Articles
Denisovans: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Extinct Hunters on the Tibetan Plateau
Broke On: Wednesday, 03 July 2024Denisovans, extinct humans discovered on the Tibetan Plateau around 160,000 to 30,000 years ago, are known from fossils found in Russia and Tibet. These adaptable hunters thrived in high-altitude environments and hunted a diverse range of animals. Recent research reveals they butchered large animals like woolly rhinos and processed smaller ones for food during cold periods. Denisovans' extinction remains a mystery, with further research needed to understand their relationship with other ancient human groups. H5N1 Bird Flu Survives in Raw Milk: How Pasteurization Prevents Potential Spread to Humans
Broke On: Saturday, 29 June 2024A recent study reveals that H5N1 bird flu can survive in raw milk for over an hour, raising concerns about its potential spread through contaminated dairy products. However, pasteurization effectively kills the virus in milk. The USDA warns against consuming unpasteurized dairy products due to the risk of infection and advises farmers to take preventative measures. 
New Genetic Analysis Reveals Small, Isolated Population of Woolly Mammoths on Wrangel Island Suffered from Inbreeding Before Extinction
Broke On: Thursday, 27 June 2024New research reveals that the last woolly mammoths on Wrangel Island, which survived for 6,000 years after disappearing from other continents, suffered from genetic disorders due to inbreeding despite having a stable population of around 200-300 individuals. This discovery sheds light on the importance of maintaining large and genetically diverse populations for long-term species survival. 
New Insights on Ancient Sea Creature Pikaia: Dorsal Nerve Cord and Gill Outgrowth Suggest Precursor to Vertebrates
Broke On: Wednesday, 12 June 2024New research on the ancient sea creature Pikaia reveals key features challenging previous interpretations, suggesting it is an unambiguous stem-group chordate and a potential precursor to vertebrates. Discoveries include a dorsal nerve cord instead of a blood vessel and a gill outgrowth instead of a dorsal organ. 
New Caledonia Fern Holds Record for Largest Genome Among Living Organisms: A Reminder of Nature's Mysteries
Broke On: Friday, 31 May 2024Scientists discover Tmesipteris oblanceolata fern in New Caledonia with a record-breaking genome of approximately 160 billion base pairs, surpassing human DNA by 50 times. The ancient fern, which grows on tree bark and belongs to a primordial plant group, now holds three Guinness World Records for the largest genome, largest plant genome, and largest fern genome. Researchers aim to study its impact on function and extinction risk. 
Unraveling the Cross-Cultural Connections Between Music and Language: A Groundbreaking Study Reveals New Insights
Broke On: Wednesday, 15 May 2024In a groundbreaking study, 75 researchers investigated the connections between music and language across 55 cultures, revealing shared features in rhythms, pitches, and potential evolutionary significance as a social bonding tool. 
WHO Updates Terminology: Pathogens That Transmit Through the Air - COVID-19, Influenza, and More
Broke On: Thursday, 18 April 2024The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated the terminology for airborne viruses, including COVID-19, to be called 'pathogens that transmit through the air.' The WHO now discourages differentiating between aerosols and larger droplets and emphasizes they exist on a continuous spectrum of sizes. This update aims to eliminate confusion in communicating virus transmission among human populations following discrepancies during the COVID-19 pandemic response. 
New Study Suggests Drought Conditions May Have Driven Human Migration Out of Africa
Broke On: Thursday, 21 March 2024A new study by Arizona State University suggests that humans living in Ethiopia 74,000 years ago may have migrated out of Africa due to drought conditions. This forced them to adapt and possibly travel for resources, potentially driving a dispersal. 
The X Chromosome and Autoimmune Diseases in Women: A Comprehensive Analysis of Causes and Treatment Options
Broke On: Saturday, 03 February 2024Autoimmune diseases, caused by genetic, environmental or lifestyle factors, affect 80% of women worldwide. The X chromosome may contribute to this disparity. 
The Connection Between Woolly Mammoths and Early Human Settlements in Alaska: A Journey with Elma the Female Mammoth
Broke On: Thursday, 18 January 2024Researchers have linked the travels of a female woolly mammoth named Elma with the oldest known human settlements in Alaska through isotope analysis. Early Alaskans likely structured their settlements to overlap with areas where mammoths congregated, and details about Elma's travels are provided.