I’ve updated yesterday’s cat evolution post with some tough comments from an expert on cat fossils. Check it out.
-
About The Loom
"Celebrated curiosity monger"
Carl Zimmer writes about science regularly for the New York Times and magazines such as Discover, where he is a contributing editor and columnist.
He is the author of twelve books, the most recent of which is Science Ink: Tattoos of the Science Obsessed. His website is carlzimmer.com and his address is blog at carlzimmer dot com .
Google Profile
Recent Posts- A Planet of Viruses: Autographed Book Sale
- Animal Friendships: My cover story for Time magazine
- The Future of E-books–podcast of my interview on Wisconsin Public Radio
- Thursday, February 16: Science and social media panel in New York
- A Scientific Jonah: My profile of Joy Reidenberg in tomorrow’s New York Times
Science Tattoo Emporium
I once wondered aloud if scientists had tattoos of their science. The answer was yes, and this ever-growing collection is the evidence. I've turned them into a book about art and science called Science Ink: Tattoos of Science Obsessed.
Books
Carl Zimmer is the author of twelve books and counting.
"Beautiful. Packed with fascinating stories"-Nature
Order a copy
"Whether discussing the common cold and flu, little-known viruses that attack bacteria or protect oceans, or the world’s viral future as seen through our encounters with HIV or SARS, Zimmer’s writing is lively, knowledgeable, and graced with poetic touches.”—Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Available in hardback or Kindle
“Carl Zimmer takes us behind the scenes in our own heads. He has ferreted out all the most wondrous, bizarre stories and studies and served them up in this delicious, sizzling, easy-to-digest platter of neuro-goodness.” —Mary Roach, author of Packing for Mars and Stiff
An ebook exclusive: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, carlzimmer.com
New! More Brain Cuttings:
Further Explorations of the Mind
Order from Amazon and Barnes & Noble and Apple
"The Tangled Bank is the best written and best illustrated introduction to evolution of the Darwin centennial decade, and also the most conversant with ongoing research."--Edward O. Wilson, Harvard University
Order a copy
"Superb...quietly revolutionary"--Boston Globe
Order a copy
"Fascinating...thrilling... Zimmer has produced a top-notch work of popular science."--Los Angeles Times
Order a copy
"As thorough as it is graceful...This is as fine a book as one will find on the subject."--Scientific American
Order a copy
"A book capable of changing how we see the world."--The Los Angeles Times
Reissued with a new epilogue by the author.
Order a copy
"A fascinating story, which Zimmer unfolds as a tale of high-stakes scientific sleuthing."--Booklist
Order a copy
Nifty Fifty
Copyright © 2012, Kalmbach Publishing Co.
Privacy - Terms - Reader Services - Subscribe Today - Advertise - About Us
January 6th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
Is it true that cats were independently domesticated in different parts of the world – Egypt, Thailand and China? I have heard so somewhere but cannot find evidence either way.
January 7th, 2006 at 12:32 am
So this may not really answer your question… But I think I remember a reference in Guns, Germs, and Steel (an amazing book by Jared Diamond if you haven’t read it) that mentions cats being domesticated in northern Africa (presumably Egypt). I don’t recall any mention of the other two locations, and I would think he would have mentioned it since he wrote about many domesticated animals human have managed to “tame.”
January 7th, 2006 at 4:06 am
Jared Diamond also wrote another book “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” which is also neck and neck with his Germs book. This is an author who’s books I would buy as he is an outstanding writer filling his writings with lots of “Oh Wow!” moments. I also beleive just yesterday I read an article in our newspaper about the evolution of cats. Seems they came from many different places on earth and evolved as specific species in each place, although a cat is a cat is a cat. I love ‘em and their independent attitude.