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Nature and Science June 2026 |
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| Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds by Scott Solomon; foreword by Scott KellyIn his sobering take on the idea of human settlement of other planets, evolutionary biologist Scott Solomon focuses on the stresses that conditions in places like Mars -- low gravity, lack of oxygen, high radiation levels -- would place on the humans living there, and what effect they might have over generations. We would face the paradox of leaving Earth for the purpose of preserving humanity and then possibly evolving into a different species. Solomon’s astute study ably “balances aspiration with reality” (Booklist). |
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| Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health by Roxanne KhamsiScience journalist Roxanne Khamsi’s well-researched debut offers a peek at cutting-edge genetics and the idea that our DNA is not static, as previously thought, but constantly mutating, in as many as trillions of occurrences daily. Geneticists hope that better understanding these naturally occurring mutations will give us a window into the cause of genetic diseases like cancer and, more importantly, how best to treat them. For a similar read, try From One Cell: A Journey into Life’s Origins and the Future of Medicine by Ben Stanger. |
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| The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie by Chanda Prescod-WeinsteinPhysicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein leverages her Black, Jewish, and queer identity to bring an adventurous cultural context to hard science. Through accessible explanations of theoretical physics concepts like relativity, dark matter, and quantum mechanics, and drawing parallels with ideas drawn from literature, Hebrew spirituality, and Indigenous folklore, Prescod-Weinstein rescues physics from its white, male, heteronormative enclave while stressing inclusion, wonder, and joy. For fans of: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson. |
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I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right
by Matt Kaplan
A highly compelling (Washington Post) work of popular science about scientists who have had to fight for their revolutionary ideas to be acceptedFor two decades, Matt Kaplan has covered science for the Economist. He's seen breakthroughs often occur in spite of, rather than because of, the behavior of the research community, and how support can be withheld for those who don't conform or have the right connections.
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In Trees: An Exploration
by Robert Moor
From the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller On Trails comes a wondrous new journey through the wilds of nature and the gnarls of history, exploring how trees--from the mightiest sequoia to the tiniest bonsai--can teach us to grow wise. To truly grasp the wisdom of a tree, you need to begin thinking like one... One day, on a whim, Robert Moor set out to climb a tree near his home--unwittingly embarking on what would become a decade-long, globe-spanning adventure of intellectual and spiritual transformation. Pursuing the hidden wisdom of trees, he scales to the very top of a giant sequoia while filming a nature documentary with David Attenborough; he treks through swamps in Papua to reach a treehouse-dwelling tribe of hunter-gatherers; and he journeys to a remote research camp in Tanzania, where he spends a memorable night sleeping in a chimpanzee nest, seeking to understand our deep evolutionary history.
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Outsider Animals: How the Creatures at the Margins of Our Lives Have the Most to Teach Us
by Marlene Zuk
This is a truly compelling book, rich with scientific expertise and humor.--Isabella Rossellini From one of our foremost experts on behavioral evolution, an entertaining exploration of what raccoons, rats, and other animal intruders teach us about intelligence, adaptability, and ourselves When we think of animals that provide the greatest insights into animal cognition and behavior, primates and honeybees come to mind, or perhaps whales or octopus. What about the raccoons that plunder our rubbish at night, or the coyotes that threaten pets and livestock, or the gulls that divebomb for snacks at the beach?
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| Alien Worlds: How Insects Conquered the Earth and Why Their Fate Will Determine Our Future by Steve NichollsFor 400 million years, insects have been the most numerous members of the animal kingdom and have spent that time developing incredible ways to crawl, jump, burrow, fly, hunt and reproduce in ways that perfectly suit virtually every environment on Earth. Yet, as documentary filmmaker and entomologist Steve Nicholls reminds us in his richly illustrated book, it is humans that are proving most problematic to insect survival. For another book on this last point, try Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse by Dave Goulson. |
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The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World
by Oliver Milman
From ants scurrying under leaf litter to bees able to fly higher than Mount Kilimanjaro, insects are everywhere. Three out of every four of our planet's known animal species are insects. In The Insect Crisis, Oliver Milman dives into the torrent of recent evidence that suggests this kaleidoscopic group of creatures is suffering the greatest existential crisis in its remarkable 400-million-year history. What is causing the collapse of the insect world? And what can be done to stem the loss of the miniature empires that hold aloft life as we know it? Milman explores this hidden emergency, arguing that its consequences could even rival climate change.
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The Insect Epiphany: How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture
by Barrett Klein
From entomologist Barrett Klein comes a buzz-worthy exploration of the many ways insects have affected human society, history, and culture As heard on Science Friday. Insects surround us. They fuel life on Earth through their roles as pollinators, predators, and prey, but rarely do we consider the outsize influence they have had on our culture and civilization. Their anatomy and habits inform how we live, work, create art, and innovate. Featuring nearly 250 color images--from ancient etchings to avant-garde art, from bug-based meals to haute couture--The Insect Epiphany proves that our world would look very different without insects, not just because they are crucial to our ecosystems, but because they have shaped and inspired so many aspects of what makes us human.
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| Insectopolis: A Natural History by Peter KuperEisner Award-winning graphic novelist Peter Kuper’s illustrated ode to insect life incorporates multiple timelines, talking bugs, and a human de-populated world where the insects happily visit museum exhibits devoted to them! Kuper provides a wealth of science information alongside his stunning illustrations in inventively arranged panels that will draw in readers who like graphic nonfiction. For something similar, try The Hidden Life of Trees, Fred Bernard’s and Benjamin Flao's graphic adaptation of the book by Peter Wohlleben. |
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Contact the Reference Dept. at 847-720-3230 for more great books! |
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