Katya Zimmer

I love learning about new scientific theories - like whether the fungi that inhabit our bodies could be influencing our minds and brains. My latest for @BBC_Future: bbc.com/future/article…

I had such fun writing this recent article for @KnowableMag about the latest advances in light microscopy and all the surprising new things we're now learning about cells. Make sure to check out the beautiful images! knowablemagazine.org/content/articl…

Geothermal power may not remain a niche source of energy, just for volcanic regions. @katarinazimmer reports on the achievements of enhanced geothermal systems and the challenges still ahead: buff.ly/apQicxu

Hi! I’m a reporter writing a story for @NatureCareers about bullying during peer review & solutions to the issue, and am looking to speak with folks who have personal experiences. If you have a story you'd like to share, reach me at [email protected]. Thank you!

In the early 1990s, a small team tried to survive in a hermetically sealed space containing replicas of Earth's ecosystems. Their trials and discoveries still have repercussions today, I report for @BBC_Future: bbc.com/future/article…

Love this article about @B2science by @katarinazimmer bbc.com/future/article… #biosphere2 @ecotechnics @BBC @BBCScienceNews

Seed banking is crucial to safeguarding threatened plants from extinction, but seeds can be surprisingly fussy, as I learned in my latest for @KnowableMag ☘️🌱🌳🌼🌸🌺 Featuring @naomibot @cpcplants @MobotMuseum @uwanews #KewGardens & more knowablemagazine.org/content/articl…

"Bibliotherapy" - prescribing people books to help treat mental health conditions - is soaring in popularity. But does it work? I dug into this surprisingly complex question for @BBCFuture: bbc.co.uk/future/article…

Fish with certain body types and behaviors are more likely than others to get caught. Over time, fishing can gradually change the makeup of the remaining population—and over many generations, could even influence evolution. My latest for @NautilusMag: nautil.us/how-fishing-co…

Trees “remember” their past and use this information to prepare for future conditions. For instance, frequently experiencing drought encourages trees to transform their canopies in ways that make them more drought-resistant, new research shows. sciencenews.org/article/trees-…

Fishermen like to catch large– and hence old – fish. That can have surprising effects, like a recent collapse of herring migration along Norway’s coast. Turns out it's these old individuals that guide young herring on migrations. Me for @NautilusMag: nautil.us/how-these-fish…

Scientists long thought of evolution as a long, incremental process that takes millions of years, but they're increasingly finding evidence for "rapid evolution"- offering hope that wildlife can adapt to the many threats they face. Me for @NWF's magazine: nwf.org/Magazines/Nati…

Plastics are increasingly permeating the world’s soils - and having noticeable effects on animal health, plant growth, and even carbon storage and the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Read more in my interview with Matthias Rillig @FU_Berlin: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac…

What animal can split into halves to reproduce, distract predators by excreting its innards, and is critical for ocean health? Learn more about the weird and wonderful habits of the 1800+ species of sea cucumber in my latest for @KnowableMag: knowablemagazine.org/content/articl…

My latest for @BBC_Future piece explores the ins and outs of using vinegar for cleaning, based on my own feuds with limescale: bbc.com/future/article…

After yesterday’s Iberian power mishap, @katarinazimmer’s article on renewable energy storage is a useful reminder of the challenges we face and where the solutions might be: buff.ly/Fd9trxT

Fisheries around the world rely on the "Maximum Sustainable Yield" to ensure they're sustainable - but the metric is hard to measure and experts disagree on how to calculate it. I dug into this shaky but crucial metric for @AmbrookResearch: ambrook.com/research/susta…

Allergy season is upon us - and that includes animals, too! Check out my piece for @BBC_Future about how allergies affect polar bears & other animals and why allergies develop (hint: it has to do with human environments like zoos, farms, and households). bbc.com/future/article…