“Bats Jam Each Other’s Sonar” and Other Stories

Ed Yong may very well be the poster child for science writing. He has earned his position as the face (and brains) behind the blog “Not Exactly Rocket Science,” which is currently being hosted by National Geographic. Before becoming a science writer, Yong worked at Cancer Research UK. He now administers this knowledge to readers in small doses, watered down with just the right amount of conversation.

What distinguishes Yong’s work from a sea of science blogs is the individuality of his selections. Each topic is hand-picked with the awareness of a curator; many of the issues he discusses cannot be encountered elsewhere. When asked how Yong chooses his next topic, he responded with a universal theme: personal interest. Yong taps into our curiosity with his quirky selections. We want to believe him because of his underlying passion. And we do end up believing him because of his candid word choice. For instance, in one of Yong’s recent articles, titled “Bats Jam Each Other’s Sonar,” Yong discusses the “acoustic warfare” in which bats engage to beat out fellow bats chasing after the same bug. The topic is unusual, the language accessible, the impression memorable.

But Yong’s blog does not exclusively promote his own pieces. Every week, he produces a list of hand-picked science pieces from around the internet. In so doing, Yong encourages readers to spread the word, not just his own. Sign up for Yong's weekly science newsletter, or visit his blog for a healthy dose of science!