Marc Zimmer
@lightupscience.bsky.social
Author State of Science, Illuminating Disease, Bioluminescence, Cleaner Greener Planet and Glowing Genes. Life is fun when GFP glows. Chemistry professor, teaching with AI, @conncoll 🇿🇦 🇺🇸🇩🇪
Today’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognizes Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries that made optogenetics possible. A wonderful moment for a field I wrote about in Lightening Up the Brain. Basic science at its best.
#NobelPrize #Optogenetics #Neuroscience
#NobelPrize #Optogenetics #Neuroscience
October 5, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Today’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognizes Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries that made optogenetics possible. A wonderful moment for a field I wrote about in Lightening Up the Brain. Basic science at its best.
#NobelPrize #Optogenetics #Neuroscience
#NobelPrize #Optogenetics #Neuroscience
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
This lovely animated map shows the lighthouses of New England. The dark theme instantly makes you feel how important the sight of a lighthouse would've been for mariners throughout history.
Source: mapped.earth buff.ly/cfUevAQ
HT @AaronJBecker
Source: mapped.earth buff.ly/cfUevAQ
HT @AaronJBecker
September 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM
This lovely animated map shows the lighthouses of New England. The dark theme instantly makes you feel how important the sight of a lighthouse would've been for mariners throughout history.
Source: mapped.earth buff.ly/cfUevAQ
HT @AaronJBecker
Source: mapped.earth buff.ly/cfUevAQ
HT @AaronJBecker
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
Oof. This is less than when I was a GRFP 15 years ago
NSF just announced its GRFP solicitation due in October - deadline varies by field:
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Now for the bad news...
* NSF estimates they will issue 1,500 awards, down from 2,500+ last year.
* NSF removed STEM Education and Learning Research as a Major Field.
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Now for the bad news...
* NSF estimates they will issue 1,500 awards, down from 2,500+ last year.
* NSF removed STEM Education and Learning Research as a Major Field.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
August 25, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Oof. This is less than when I was a GRFP 15 years ago
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
The daily global average sea surface temperature has just reached its highest level on record, per C3S.
"The timing of the record is particularly notable. Global ocean temperatures are typically highest in March and April, following the austral summer, yet this record has been reached in August."
"The timing of the record is particularly notable. Global ocean temperatures are typically highest in March and April, following the austral summer, yet this record has been reached in August."
August 24, 2026 at 10:47 AM
The daily global average sea surface temperature has just reached its highest level on record, per C3S.
"The timing of the record is particularly notable. Global ocean temperatures are typically highest in March and April, following the austral summer, yet this record has been reached in August."
"The timing of the record is particularly notable. Global ocean temperatures are typically highest in March and April, following the austral summer, yet this record has been reached in August."
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
The highest mountain in the world is Mt Everest, right?! Well, if you count the actual mountain rather than from sea level Mauna Kea is the highest. If look for the point that's furthest away from the earth's center it's Chimborazo. Source: buff.ly/2zZ1lPt
August 23, 2026 at 4:00 AM
The highest mountain in the world is Mt Everest, right?! Well, if you count the actual mountain rather than from sea level Mauna Kea is the highest. If look for the point that's furthest away from the earth's center it's Chimborazo. Source: buff.ly/2zZ1lPt
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
Political Studies is the most gender equal subject. This fun grap by @telegraph shows A-level gender disparity in 2026.
August 14, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Political Studies is the most gender equal subject. This fun grap by @telegraph shows A-level gender disparity in 2026.
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
Discovery of a buried charge-network GFP-fold family spanning prokaryotes and eukaryotes (Draft manuscript) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.29.741452v1
August 3, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Discovery of a buried charge-network GFP-fold family spanning prokaryotes and eukaryotes (Draft manuscript) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.29.741452v1
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
Discovery of a buried charge-network GFP-fold family spanning prokaryotes and eukaryotes (Draft manuscript) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.29.741452v1
August 3, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Discovery of a buried charge-network GFP-fold family spanning prokaryotes and eukaryotes (Draft manuscript) https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.29.741452v1
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
The hardest puzzle ever? It's got to be a protein!
My hobby is turning protein structures into #OddlySatisfying 3D puzzles. Here's GFP (PDB: 1EMA)! 🧩🧬🧪
🎥 youtube.com/shorts/3ljlR...
📸 www.instagram.com/reel/Da2NKpT...
My hobby is turning protein structures into #OddlySatisfying 3D puzzles. Here's GFP (PDB: 1EMA)! 🧩🧬🧪
🎥 youtube.com/shorts/3ljlR...
📸 www.instagram.com/reel/Da2NKpT...
The hardest puzzle ever? It’s a protein!
YouTube video by Proteotopical
youtube.com
July 17, 2026 at 12:09 AM
The hardest puzzle ever? It's got to be a protein!
My hobby is turning protein structures into #OddlySatisfying 3D puzzles. Here's GFP (PDB: 1EMA)! 🧩🧬🧪
🎥 youtube.com/shorts/3ljlR...
📸 www.instagram.com/reel/Da2NKpT...
My hobby is turning protein structures into #OddlySatisfying 3D puzzles. Here's GFP (PDB: 1EMA)! 🧩🧬🧪
🎥 youtube.com/shorts/3ljlR...
📸 www.instagram.com/reel/Da2NKpT...
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
Did he miss chances during that stretch? Yes. Did he become Harry Kane? No. But great chemistry with #11, and always a threat to affect the game. People act like he’s cooked and needs to go to Saudi, but the reality is he’s a 25yo player that needs to mature but can have great stretches of form.
January 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Did he miss chances during that stretch? Yes. Did he become Harry Kane? No. But great chemistry with #11, and always a threat to affect the game. People act like he’s cooked and needs to go to Saudi, but the reality is he’s a 25yo player that needs to mature but can have great stretches of form.
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
Full spectrum of multi-colored "zebrabow" larvae. Credit to @jhenninger.bsky.social. #PrideMonth 🏳️🌈🐟 #ZebrafishZunday 🧪
June 21, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Full spectrum of multi-colored "zebrabow" larvae. Credit to @jhenninger.bsky.social. #PrideMonth 🏳️🌈🐟 #ZebrafishZunday 🧪
My new piece in @us.theconversation.com :
Genome sequencing can connect ancient plague graves to the Black Death and trace a COVID-19 outbreak from one conference room across a continent.
But DNA alone is not enough. Disease history needs human context too.
Genome sequencing can connect ancient plague graves to the Black Death and trace a COVID-19 outbreak from one conference room across a continent.
But DNA alone is not enough. Disease history needs human context too.
Genome sequencing is rewriting the history of disease outbreaks – but without social context, it can tell only part of the story
From the Black Death to the COVID-19 pandemic, combining the genetic data of a pathogen with historical records, archaeological artifacts and epidemiological studies can uncover its origins.
theconversation.com
May 12, 2026 at 10:40 PM
My new piece in @us.theconversation.com :
Genome sequencing can connect ancient plague graves to the Black Death and trace a COVID-19 outbreak from one conference room across a continent.
But DNA alone is not enough. Disease history needs human context too.
Genome sequencing can connect ancient plague graves to the Black Death and trace a COVID-19 outbreak from one conference room across a continent.
But DNA alone is not enough. Disease history needs human context too.
Bioluminescent algae’s blue light harnessed to make 3D-printed shapes www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Bioluminescent algae’s blue light harnessed to make 3D-printed shapes
Scientists suggest algae could be embedded within biosensors that glow when toxins detected in the environment
www.theguardian.com
May 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Bioluminescent algae’s blue light harnessed to make 3D-printed shapes www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Mindboggling Science article #2. AI can now match or exceed physician-level clinical diagnostic reasoning.
AI can reason like a physician—what comes next?
Text-based AI can think like a physician; the challenge is achieving safe clinical implementation
www.science.org
May 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Mindboggling Science article #2. AI can now match or exceed physician-level clinical diagnostic reasoning.
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
This chart might look political, but it’s really about data science. The UK can rank great or poorly depending on the KPIs you choose. Our choice of data decides how we view reality.
April 25, 2026 at 12:30 AM
This chart might look political, but it’s really about data science. The UK can rank great or poorly depending on the KPIs you choose. Our choice of data decides how we view reality.
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
PinkyCaMP is finally published!!
My first paper co-first authored with @sikmys.bsky.social where we make a great optogenetic and multiplex compatible red calcium indicator.
Thank you to @massecklab.bsky.social and @campbell-lab.bsky.social for guiding this journey
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
My first paper co-first authored with @sikmys.bsky.social where we make a great optogenetic and multiplex compatible red calcium indicator.
Thank you to @massecklab.bsky.social and @campbell-lab.bsky.social for guiding this journey
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
PinkyCaMP: an mScarlet-based calcium sensor with enhanced brightness, photostability and multiplexing capabilities - Nature Methods
PinkyCaMP is a red genetically encoded calcium indicator with improved brightness and photostability. Derived from mScarlet, it does not exhibit photoswitching upon blue light illumination and is ther...
www.nature.com
April 24, 2026 at 10:25 AM
PinkyCaMP is finally published!!
My first paper co-first authored with @sikmys.bsky.social where we make a great optogenetic and multiplex compatible red calcium indicator.
Thank you to @massecklab.bsky.social and @campbell-lab.bsky.social for guiding this journey
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
My first paper co-first authored with @sikmys.bsky.social where we make a great optogenetic and multiplex compatible red calcium indicator.
Thank you to @massecklab.bsky.social and @campbell-lab.bsky.social for guiding this journey
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
In France, legislation came into effect recently for all car parks that have over 80 spaces to be covered with solar panels. Estimated to add around 11GW of renewable energy capacity to the national grid. Why not do likewise in Scotland? Braehead, Silverburn, Glasgow Fort etc.
April 12, 2026 at 9:56 AM
In France, legislation came into effect recently for all car parks that have over 80 spaces to be covered with solar panels. Estimated to add around 11GW of renewable energy capacity to the national grid. Why not do likewise in Scotland? Braehead, Silverburn, Glasgow Fort etc.
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
I'm deep down the rabbit hole on FROGFISH, 60 species of anglerfish in family Antennariidae.
They are deeply, utterly WEIRD & MARVELOUS.
Most walk on modified fins.
Others use jet propulsion.
Some are capable of air-breathing.
Some are "hairy", others blend perfectly in sargassum.
They are deeply, utterly WEIRD & MARVELOUS.
Most walk on modified fins.
Others use jet propulsion.
Some are capable of air-breathing.
Some are "hairy", others blend perfectly in sargassum.
April 9, 2026 at 1:17 PM
I'm deep down the rabbit hole on FROGFISH, 60 species of anglerfish in family Antennariidae.
They are deeply, utterly WEIRD & MARVELOUS.
Most walk on modified fins.
Others use jet propulsion.
Some are capable of air-breathing.
Some are "hairy", others blend perfectly in sargassum.
They are deeply, utterly WEIRD & MARVELOUS.
Most walk on modified fins.
Others use jet propulsion.
Some are capable of air-breathing.
Some are "hairy", others blend perfectly in sargassum.
"Kleptoproteinism" - I have learned a new word today, and I love it.
This Glowing Fish Steals Bioluminescence Instead of Making Its Own Light
Learn more about the golden sweeper, a type of fish that steals bioluminescent proteins from its prey to glow, a rare case of kleptoproteinism.
www.discovermagazine.com
April 8, 2026 at 9:15 PM
"Kleptoproteinism" - I have learned a new word today, and I love it.
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
Leipidonotus squamatus- stunning scaleworm shot by Alexander Semenov! #worldpolychaeteday!
July 1, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Leipidonotus squamatus- stunning scaleworm shot by Alexander Semenov! #worldpolychaeteday!
Reposted by Marc Zimmer
‼️NEW ANGLERFISH PAPER! 🐟🎣
So excited to share the final part of my Master’s research! We explore the bizarre tacklebox of anglerfish lures and show how these fishes evolved different ways to attract prey and maybe even mates in the deep sea. 🧪🦑🌊🦇🦀
Open access paper link: doi.org/10.1643/i202...
So excited to share the final part of my Master’s research! We explore the bizarre tacklebox of anglerfish lures and show how these fishes evolved different ways to attract prey and maybe even mates in the deep sea. 🧪🦑🌊🦇🦀
Open access paper link: doi.org/10.1643/i202...
April 8, 2026 at 2:41 PM
‼️NEW ANGLERFISH PAPER! 🐟🎣
So excited to share the final part of my Master’s research! We explore the bizarre tacklebox of anglerfish lures and show how these fishes evolved different ways to attract prey and maybe even mates in the deep sea. 🧪🦑🌊🦇🦀
Open access paper link: doi.org/10.1643/i202...
So excited to share the final part of my Master’s research! We explore the bizarre tacklebox of anglerfish lures and show how these fishes evolved different ways to attract prey and maybe even mates in the deep sea. 🧪🦑🌊🦇🦀
Open access paper link: doi.org/10.1643/i202...
My new young adult book, Diseases Without Borders, is officially out. It explores plagues, pandemics, and the science that helps us understand how disease moves through our interconnected world.
#YoungAdultBooks #Pandemics #ScienceBooks @lernerbooks.bsky.social #21stCenturyBooks
#YoungAdultBooks #Pandemics #ScienceBooks @lernerbooks.bsky.social #21stCenturyBooks
April 8, 2026 at 3:58 PM
My new young adult book, Diseases Without Borders, is officially out. It explores plagues, pandemics, and the science that helps us understand how disease moves through our interconnected world.
#YoungAdultBooks #Pandemics #ScienceBooks @lernerbooks.bsky.social #21stCenturyBooks
#YoungAdultBooks #Pandemics #ScienceBooks @lernerbooks.bsky.social #21stCenturyBooks
