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Nature and Science June 2026 |
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| The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind by Tom GriffithsTom Griffiths, director of Princeton’s Computational Cognitive Science Lab, fascinates with an accessible survey of the attempts to reduce human thought to a discreet set of mathematical principles. While some approaches have proved useful in modelling certain kinds of problem solving, the failure of any single framework to capture the mind’s versatility is at the center of Griffiths' book, and has implications for the development of AI. For fans of: How to Create a Mind by Ray Kurzweil. |
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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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| To Catch a Fish: Essays on the Joy, Frustration, Curiosity, and Allure of Fishing by Mark Kurlansky; illustrations by Bri DostieNonfiction author Mark Kurlansky (The Boston Way) proves an entertaining guide to his favorite pastime. Along with advice on how, where, and with what equipment to catch various species of fish, Kurlansky’s book of essays includes enlightening tangents about fishing in literature, cooking tips, fly-tying, and the obsessive nature of hobbies, as well as vivid paintings by artist Bri Dostie. Read-alike: the anthology The Catch of a Lifetime: Moments of Flyfishing Glory edited by Peter Kaminsky. |
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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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| 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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| Heart of the Hive: Inside the Mind of the Honey Bee and the Incredible Life Force of the Colony by Hilary Kearney; photography by Eric TourneretMaster beekeeper and honey bee enthusiast Hilary Kearney has teamed up with bee photographer Eric Tourneret to deliver a revealing glimpse into honey bee behavior. Heart of the Hive shows how a beehive and its denizens function as a superorganism in arrestingly detailed images. Bee fans will be buzzing! If you like this, check out Endless Forms: The Secret World of Wasps by Seirian Sumner. |
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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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| 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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| Tales from the Ant World by Edward O. WilsonAnts are not only fascinating but an easy insect to observe -- take it from the foremost ant expert, Pulitzer Prize winner Edward O. Wilson, whose obsession with ants began as a child in his backyard and never stopped. Readers will be captivated by Wilson’s explanation of ants’ complex social behavior, and how thousands of individuals can communicate and act cooperatively in service to the colony -- a trait all species of ant have in common. For fans of: The Jewel Box: How Moths Illuminate Nature’s Hidden Rules by Tim Blackburn. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Sewickley Public Library 500 Thorn Street, Sewickley, PA 15143 (412) 741-6920
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