Edmund Soon-Weng Yong, known professionally as Ed Yong, is an esteemed science journalist and author. Born on December 17, 1981, Yong's work has significantly influenced public understanding of scientific concepts, particularly in the realm of microbiology and the sensory experiences of animals.

Yong's career in science journalism is marked by his contributions to The Atlantic, where he has been a staff member since 2015. His writing has also graced the pages of prestigious publications such as Nature, Scientific American, BBC, Slate, The Guardian, The Times, New Scientist, Wired, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. Before joining The Atlantic, Yong was the creator and writer of the now-defunct blog Not Exactly Rocket Science, which was part of the National Geographic Phenomena network.

He is the author of two critically acclaimed books, "I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life" (2016) and "An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us" (2022). In 2021, Yong was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for his insightful series on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yong has garnered several awards throughout his career, including the Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Award for biomedical reporting and the Byron H. Waksman Award for Excellence in the Public Communication of Life Sciences, both in 2016. Additionally, he received the National Academies Keck Science Communication Award in 2010 for his work on Not Exactly Rocket Science.

Aside from his writing, Yong is a prominent speaker and has given various talks, including a TED talk on mind-controlling parasites that has captivated over 1.5 million viewers. His ability to communicate complex scientific ideas with clarity and enthusiasm makes him a respected figure in the field of science communication.