Picture a British-American storyteller who turned microbes and animal senses into page-turning adventures—meet Ed Yong! A Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist, Yong has a knack for making the invisible wonders of nature feel like epic tales. From his prescient COVID-19 reporting to his bestselling books, he’s redefined how we see the world, one fascinating fact at a time.
Born in Malaysia and now based in Oakland, California, Yong’s journey from curious student to global science communicator is as inspiring as his writing. His work, blending rigor with wonder, invites readers to marvel at life’s complexities, whether it’s the microbiome or a dolphin’s echolocation.
The Making of Ed Yong
Edmund Soon-Weng Yong was born on December 17, 1981, in Malaysia, moving to the UK at 13. A natural sciences degree from Cambridge (2002) and an MPhil in biochemistry from University College London (2005) laid the groundwork for his analytical yet accessible style. Before journalism, Yong worked at Cancer Research UK, sharpening his ability to distill complex science. His blog, Not Exactly Rocket Science, launched in 2006, became a hit, earning awards and catching the eye of outlets like National Geographic and The Atlantic, where he joined as a staff writer in 2015.
Ed Yong’s Unforgettable Stories
Yong’s writing is a masterclass in curiosity and clarity, weaving hard science with vivid storytelling. His first book, I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life (2016), explores the microbiome’s role in shaping life. A New York Times bestseller, it was praised for its humor and insight, shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize, and hailed as a biology game-changer. His second book, An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us (2022), dives into animal perception, from bees’ ultraviolet vision to turtles’ magnetic navigation. It won the Carnegie Medal and Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, lauded by The New York Times as “thrilling.”
At The Atlantic (2015–2023), Yong’s COVID-19 coverage was a tour de force. His 2020 article, “How the Pandemic Defeated America,” predicted systemic failures with eerie accuracy, earning him the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting. His style—empathetic, precise, and curiosity-driven—makes science feel personal, whether he’s writing about long COVID or mind-controlling parasites (his TED talk on the latter has over 1.9 million views).
Why Ed Yong Matters
Yong’s impact lies in his ability to bridge science and society. His pandemic reporting shaped public understanding, earning accolades like the George Polk Award and Victor Cohn Prize. Through books and articles, he champions empathy and inclusion, amplifying marginalized voices in science. As co-founder of Liminal, a science communication collective with his wife, Liz Neeley, Yong fosters nuanced storytelling. His work inspires curiosity, urging us to see the world through new lenses, from microbes to animal senses.
- Born: December 17, 1981, Malaysia
- Key Works: I Contain Multitudes (2016), An Immense World (2022)
- Awards: Pulitzer Prize (2021), Carnegie Medal (2023), Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize (2023)
- Fun Fact: He’s a corgi dad to Typo!
Snag An Immense World or I Contain Multitudes and dive into Ed Yong’s captivating blend of science and wonder!