a planet of viruses

A popular account of a once-mysterious evolutionary player sparkles with 'wow' moments, Jon Turney finds. Viruses are typically considered tiny parasites of little importance, but in fact they are hugely important to ecology and evolution. 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 branch-like growths as if they were trees. But viruses also cause a vast range of other diseases, including one disorder that makes people sprout branch-like growths as if they were trees. CARL ZIMMER writes about science for the New York Times and other publications and is the author of eight books, including Parasite Rex, Soul Made Flesh, and Microcosm. A Planet of Viruses: Third Edition (Paperback) £12.00. 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 branch-like growths as if they were trees. Join Scientist Blair Lee for a 10-week Discussion about Viruses. Zimmer, the popular science writer and author of _National Geographic’s_ award-winning blog _The Loom,_ has updated this edition to include the stories of new outbreaks, such as Ebola, MERS, and chikungunya virus; new scientific discoveries, such as a hundred-million-year-old virus that But because we live on a planet of viruses, that task is enormous.” ― Carl Zimmer, A Planet of Viruses. Notify me. A Planet of Viruses is an important primer on the viruses living within and around all of us—sometimes funny, other times shocking, and always accessible. We’re most familiar with the viruses that give us colds or Covid-19. View other formats and editions. We will contact you when this item is next available to order. At some point in a typical viral life cycle, the virus hijacks the cell's machinery to build new viruses, eventually causing the cell to burst and spill its infectious contents. Author: Carl Zimmer Publisher: University of Chicago Press Category: Medicine. The vast majority of the time, we live in harmony with the viruses around us. In 2020, an invisible germ—a virus—wholly upended our lives. Viruses are extremely small and can only be observed under an electron microscope.The structure of a virus is given by its coat of proteins, which surround the viral genome.Assembly of viral particles takes place spontaneously.. Over 50% of known plant viruses are rod-shaped (flexuous or rigid). What Golden and other disease detectives are trying to do is identify where and how humans get exposed to new, dangerous viruses like SARS CoV-2 (the cause of COVID-19). Synopsis. 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 branch-like growths as if they were trees. A Planet of Viruses. Viruses … To put it on a more conceivable scale, it’s been estimated that each day, more than 700 million viruses, mainly of marine origin, are deposited from Earth’s atmosphere onto every square meter of our planet… Thoroughly readable, and, for all its honesty about the threats, as reassuring as it is frightening, A Planet of Viruses is a fascinating tour of a world we all need to better understand. Weeks 2 through 6 will use A Planet of Viruses written by Carl Zimmer as the spine. 00. A planet of viruses by Carl Zimmer, 2011, University of Chicago Press edition, in English Like “The Europeans unwittingly brought a biological weapon with them that gave the invaders a brutal advantage over their opponents. May 26, 2011 . x, 109 pages : 23 cm Viruses are the smallest living things known to science, and yet they hold the entire planet in their sway. New Edition in 2015! Remove our virus-derived genes, and we would die in the womb.” – from A PLANET OF VIRUSES Published in 2015, this second edition of A PLANE T OF VIRUSES by Carl Zimmer is most certainly topical for our COVID-19 plagued time. BY CARL ZIMMER. Thoroughly readable, and, for all its honesty about the threats, as reassuring as it is frightening, A Planet of Viruses is a fascinating tour of a world we all need to better understand. We are most familiar with the viruses that give us colds or the flu, but viruses also cause a vast range of other diseases. You’ll 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 kill to their protective properties. Other weeks will have assigned articles at the same reading level. 1 likes. Thank you. 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. A Planet of Viruses. Interview with science writer Carl Zimmer. But then a rash appears, quickly spreading across their body. A Planet of VIRUSES Carl Zimmer The University of Chicago Press Chicago and London. “Viruses are the smallest living things known to science, yet they hold the entire planet in their sway. Planet of Viruses. The Planet Virus Project aims to share international expert opinions and insights with a global audience ranging from persons with a healthy interest in the Planet Virus-related topic to the hardcore experts. Viruses helped give rise to the first life-forms, are responsible for many of our most devastating diseases, and will continue to control our fate for centuries. Viruses helped give rise to the first life-forms, are responsible for many of our most devastating diseases, and will continue to control our fate for centuries. Available in: English, Russian, Korean, Turkish, Japanese, and Polish. There are a lot of viruses on this planet. ISBN 9780226983356 Books A planet of viruses The fever subsides, to the relief of the patient. Thoroughly readable, and as reassuring as it is frightening, A Planet of Viruses is a fascinating tour of a formidable hidden world. A Planet of Viruses explores how viruses regulate the biosphere, how they helped give rise to the first life-forms, how viruses are producing new diseases, how we can harness viruses for our own ends, and how viruses will continue to control our fate for years.. Viruses are the smallest living things known to science, and yet they hold the entire planet in their sway. A planet of viruses by Carl Zimmer, 2011, University of Chicago Press edition, in English - First edition Viruses get a bad rap. _A Planet of Viruses_ is Carl Zimmer’s eye-opening look at the hidden world of viruses. Most people just know them as the cause of suffering around the world, from the AIDS epidemic to the common cold. We're most familiar with the viruses that give us colds or Covid-19. Viruses helped give rise to the first life-forms, are responsible for many of our most devastating diseases, and will continue to control our fate for centuries. In 2020, an invisible germ-a virus-wholly upended our lives. The Planet Virus Project aims to share international expert opinions and insights with a global audience ranging from persons with a healthy interest in the Planet Virus-related topic to the hardcore experts. A Planet of Viruses (2011) takes you on a whirlwind tour into the hidden world of viruses. Consider these facts from Carl Zimmer’s book, A Planet of Viruses: If you put all the viruses in the ocean on a scale, they would equal the weight of 75 million blue whales. Viruses are the smallest living things known to science, yet they hold the entire planet in their sway. Here are the 12 viruses that are the world's worst killers, based on their mortality rates, or the sheer numbers of people they have killed. A Planet of Viruses by Carl Zimmer By PD Smith ... Smallpox – the only human virus to have been eradicated – killed an astonishing 500m people every century in … 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 branch-like growths as if they were trees. Thoroughly readable, and, for all its honesty about the threats, as reassuring as it is frightening, A Planet of Viruses is a fascinating tour of a world we all need to better understand. 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