Nature and Science
October 2025
 

Recent Releases
Einstein's tutor : the story of Emmy Noether and the invention of modern physics by Lee Phillips
Einstein's Tutor: The Story of Emmy Noether and the Invention of Modern Physics
by Lee Phillips

This story of the pioneering mathematician shows how she overcame significant gender discrimination to make groundbreaking contributions to science, including Noether's Theorem, which underpins modern physics and helped lead to Einstein's Theory of Relativity. 
Submersed: Wonder, Obsession, and Murder in the World of Amateur Submarines
by Matthew Gavin Frank

Folded into author Matthew Gavin Frank’s thought-provoking survey of humankind’s urge to explore the ocean depths from deep-water submersibles lies a much darker obsession -- the “strong undercurrent of violence and misogyny” (Kirkus Reviews) running through the amateur sub community that arguably led to the 2017 murder of journalist Kim Wall. Readers who want more adventures beneath the waves can try The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean by Susan Casey.
Plagues upon the Earth : disease and the course of human history by Kyle Harper
Plagues Upon the Earth: Disease and the Course of Human History
by Kyle Harper

Weaving together a grand narrative of global history with insights from cutting-edge genetics, the author tells the story of how we got here as a species and puts the COVID-19 pandemic into perspective.
Tree thieves : crime and survival in North America's woods by Lyndsie Bourgon
Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in North America's Woods
by Lyndsie Bourgon

Weaving together investigative reporting, colorful characters, logging history, political analysis and cutting-edge tree science, this gripping account takes us deep into the underbelly of the illegal timber market. 
Strata: Stories from Deep Time
by Laura Poppick

Geologist Laura Poppick debuts with a detailed yet energetic trip down the geologic timeline, offering an intriguing window onto her work and showing readers just how much information about Earth’s natural history and ecosystems has been revealed through examining its sedimentary layers. For further sweeping geological insights, try: A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew H. Knoll.
The upgrade : how the female brain gets stronger and better in midlife and beyond by Louann Brizendine
The Upgrade: How the Female Brain gets Stronger and Better in Midlife and Beyond
by Louann Brizendine

The New York Times best-selling author of The Female Brain analyzes the latest research to show women how they can be their best selves at the second stage of life due to an upgraded female brain that is centered, direct, validated, focused, fearless, expansive and free.
Urban Ecology
A Natural History of Empty Lots: Field Notes from Urban Edgelands, Back Alleys, and...
by Christopher Brown

Novelist Christopher Brown, after purchasing an urban land parcel in hopes of building a house, took notice of the abundance of foxes, snakes, owls, herons, and other forms of wildlife that were encroaching into his Austin, Texas neighborhood. His observations are a hopeful reminder of nature’s resilience in the face of human development in this “appealing mix of nature writing, memoir, and self-reflection” (Kirkus Reviews).
Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door
by Thor Hanson

Conservation biologist Thor Hanson empowers readers to observe their environment with new eyes, showing us that poking around literally just outside one’s door (city or country, no matter) reveals a surprising diversity of wildlife waiting to be discovered. Hanson gives clues as to where to look while pushing the idea of “citizen science.” 
The incredible journey of plants by Stefano Mancuso
The Incredible Journey of Plants
by Stefano Mancuso

Beautifully illustrated, in this accessible, absorbing overview, one of the world's leading authorities in the field of plant neurobiology, presents fascinating stories of plant migration that reveal unexpected connections between nature and culture.
Against the seas : saving civilizations from rising waters by Mary Soderstrom
Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters
by Mary Soderstrom

"Against the Seas tells how we have coped with rising sea levels since the end of the Ice Age--by moving, building defences, or magic. Flood stories in different cultures show just how traumatic those experiences were. But what happened in the past may help us in the future and gives hope that we will survive"
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