Carl Zimmer Poradie kníh

Exploring the biology of the air we breathe, this work delves into various elements, including pollen and viruses like COVID-19. The author, a Baillie Gifford-shortlisted science columnist for the New York Times, provides insights into how these airborne entities impact our health and environment. The book highlights the intricate relationships between air quality, biology, and human well-being, making it a timely and informative read for anyone interested in the science of our atmosphere.

Award-winning writer, columnist, and journalists Carl Zimmer selects twenty science and nature essays that represent the best examples of the form published in 2022. A collection of the best science and nature articles written in 2022, selected by guest editor Carl Zimmer and series editor Jaime Green.

Wirusy są wszędzie. Takie stwierdzenie zapewne cię nie szokuje, zwłaszcza w czasach pandemii COVID-19. Ale czy na pewno? Czy wiesz, że wirusy spadają na ciebie miliardami każdego dnia z najwyższych warstw atmosfery? Że pławisz się w bilionach ich cząstek podczas każdej kąpieli w oceanie? Albo wreszcie – że twoje własne geny usiane są szczątkami dawno już umarłych wirusów, które w prehistorii zaatakowały przodka naszego gatunku? Carl Zimmer w swojej książce opisuje świat niezwykły; świat, w którym nie rządzimy my, lecz właściwie nieożywione replikatory, maleńkie maszyny potrafiące podporządkować sobie dowolny proces w naszym ciele i w ciałach innych organizmów żywych. Boimy się ich – i słusznie. Ale jeśli spojrzymy na wirusy inaczej, poznamy grupę niezwykłych tworów, balansujących na cienkiej granicy między życiem i materią martwą, odpowiedzialnych za krążenie pierwiastków na Ziemi, regulację klimatu całej planety, czy wreszcie – powstanie wiele miliardów lat temu życia takiego, jakim znamy je obecnie.

"We all assume we know what life is, but the more scientists learn about the living world-from protocells to brains, from zygotes to pandemic viruses-the harder they find it is to locate life's edge"--. Provided by publisher

Boli tu pred nami, sú tu s nami a budú tu, aj keď my nebudeme... vírusy. Slovo, ktorého význam sa definitívne ustálil až s vedeckým napredovaním modernej doby, označujúci látku, o ktorej existencii sa vedelo už v dávnej histórii bez toho, že by ju niekto videl. Jej zničujúce dôsledky nikto nebral na ľahkú váhu, ale tohto nepriateľa umožnilo zazrieť až objavenie a skonštruovanie elektrónového mikroskopu. A odvtedy sú vírusy neutíchajúcim zdrojom tých najneočakávanejších prekvapení. Aj pre vedcov.

Celebrated New York Times columnist and science writer Carl Zimmer offers a fresh perspective on heredity and what we transmit across generations. While Charles Darwin significantly contributed to the scientific inquiry of heredity, he did not fully answer the question. The emergence of genetics in the early 1900s seemed to provide clarity, leading many to translate traditional views of heredity into genetic terms. As genetic testing became more accessible, millions sought to connect with lost relatives and understand their ethnic backgrounds. However, Zimmer emphasizes that our DNA is a complex mosaic, comprised of fragments from various ancestors, each with its own unique history. These fragments influence our traits in subtle ways, extending beyond mere genetic inheritance from parents. Heredity also manifests within our bodies, as a single cell proliferates into trillions, shaping who we are. We inherit not only genes but also critical elements like microbes and technologies that enhance our lives. Zimmer argues for a redefined understanding of heredity, blending historical context with contemporary scientific research, personal anecdotes, and original reporting. He addresses pressing bioethical issues stemming from new biomedical advancements, challenging long-held beliefs about identity and what we can pass on to future generations.

"Body art meets popular science in this elegant, mind-blowing collection, written by renowned science writer Carl Zimmer. This fascinating book showcases hundreds of eye-catching tattoos that pay tribute to various scientific disciplines, from evolutionary biology and neuroscience to mathematics and astrophysics and reveals the stories of the individuals who chose to inscribe their obsessions in their skin. Best of all, each tattoo provides a leaping-off point for bestselling essayist and lecturer Zimmer to reflect on the science in question, whether it's the importance of an image of Darwin's finches or the significance of the uranium atom inked into the chest of a young radiologist."--from publisher's description

Suzie Gilbert discovered her true calling when she began working at a local animal hospital. Eventually, she started bringing abused and unwanted parrots home, and volunteering at a local raptor rehabilitation center. From there it was a short flight to her ultimate commitment: Flyaway, Inc., the nonprofit wild bird rehabilitation center she ran out of her own home. With heart and delightful wit, Gilbert chronicles daily life in her household-cum-bird-hospital, and recounts the resulting chaos as she, her husband, and their two young children struggled to live in a home where parrots shrieked Motown songs and recuperating herons took over the spare bathroom. Flyaway is a remarkable story of compassion for and dedication to beautiful creatures—and the importance of pursuing even the most unlikely of dreams.

A Best Book of the YearSeed Magazine • Granta Magazine • The Plain-DealerIn this fascinating and utterly engaging book, Carl Zimmer traces E. coli's pivotal role in the history of biology, from the discovery of DNA to the latest advances in biotechnology. He reveals the many surprising and alarming parallels between E. coli's life and our own. And he describes how E. coli changes in real time, revealing billions of years of history encoded within its genome. E. coli is also the most engineered species on Earth, and as scientists retool this microbe to produce life-saving drugs and clean fuel, they are discovering just how far the definition of life can be stretched.

Kniha Jak se duše stala tělem je pozoruhodný, dosud nepopsaný příběh vyprávějící o dramatickém historickém zvratu - vzrušujícím objevu funkce lidského mozku. Autor vypráví o objevování mozku v Anglii 17. století, příběh, který se odvíjí ve smrtící perspektivě občanské války, moru a velkého londýnského požáru. Na počátku tohoto století nikdo nevěděl, jak mozek funguje, nikdo neměl ponětí, jak vypadá v nedotčeném stavu. Na konci století věda o mozku zapustila kořeny. Pomohla překonat většinu běžných mylných představ a převládajících filosofií týkajících se lidí, Boha a vesmíru.