Longwood Public Library: Nature and Science: February 2026

Recent Releases

Planning Miracles: How to Prevent Future Pandemics
by Jon Cohen

A groundbreaking book about the past, present, and future of pandemics, and a behind-the-scenes portrait of the intrepid and innovative community of scientists working tirelessly to stop the next one before it starts. Weaving together history, reportage, and science writing, Planning Miracles is revelatory and necessary--providing hope that if we work together to plan for the next pandemic, we can avoid disaster.

Nature and the Mind: The Science of How Nature Improves Cognitive, Physical, and Social Well-Being
by Marc Berman

Dr. Marc Berman, the pioneering creator of the field of environmental neuroscience, has discovered the surprising connection between mind, body, and the natural environment. If you sometimes feel drained, distracted, or depressed, Dr. Berman has identified the elements of a 'nature prescription' that can boost your energy, sharpen your focus, change your mood, and improve your mental and physical health. The positive effects of nature don't just end at the individual; contact with nature can make people more caring towards one another, promote economic and racial justice, encourage people to care more for the environment, and more.

Just Visiting This Planet, Revised and Updated for the Twenty-First Century: Further Scientific Adventures of Merlin from Omniscia
by Neil Degrasse Tyson

In this companion volume to Merlin's Tour of the Universe, we visit again with Merlin, a timeless traveler from Planet Omniscia, who answers a collection of imaginative questions about the cosmos from curious stargazers. Merlin tackles such conundrums as: Are black holes gathering matter in preparation for another big bang in another time and dimension? Why does the Moon look bigger on the horizon?

Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature
by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian

Growing up, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian felt most at home in the swamps and culverts near her house in the Hudson Valley. A child who frequently felt out of place, too much of one thing or not enough of another, she found acceptance in these settings, among other amphibious beings. In snakes, snails, and, above all, fungi, she saw her own developing identities as a queer, neurodivergent person reflected back at her - and in them, too, she found a personal path to a life of science.

Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us
by Julia Belluz

Nutrition isn't rocket science; it's harder. There are new diet fads, bold claims about superfoods and articles promising the secrets to lasting weight-loss and longevity. The more 'expert' advice we hear about diet, the less clarity we have about what to eat. In Food Intelligence, award-winning health journalist, Julia Belluz, and internationally renowned nutrition and metabolism scientist, Kevin Hall, cut through the myths about nutrition to deliver a comprehensive book on food, diet, metabolism and healthy eating. Humane and deeply reported, this journey into the science of what we eat will equip you with the food intelligence you need to better understand what's on your dinner plate, how it got there, and why you eat it.

Birds and Birding

The Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness
by Kenn Kaufman

Naturalist Kenn Kaufman examines the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his artistic and ornithologist peers to show how what they saw (and what they missed) reflects how we perceive and understand the natural world.

Slow Birding: The Art and Science of Enjoying the Birds in Your Own Backyard
by Joan E. Strassmann

Many birders travel far and wide to popular birding destinations to catch sight of rare or exotic birds. In Slow Birding, evolutionary biologist Joan E. Strassmann introduces readers to the joys of birding right where they are. In this inspiring guide to the art of slow birding, Strassmann tells colorful stories of the most common birds to be found in the United States - birds we often see but might not have considered deeply before.

Ten Birds That Changed the World
by Stephen Moss

For the whole of human history, we have lived alongside birds. We have hunted and domesticated them for food; venerated them in our mythologies, religion, and rituals; exploited them for their natural resources; and been inspired by them for our music, art, and poetry. In this book, naturalist and author Stephen Moss tells the story of this long and eventful relationship through ten key species from all seven of the world's continents. From Odin's faithful raven companions to Darwin's finches, and from the wild turkey of the Americas to the emperor penguin as potent symbol of the climate crisis, this is an engaging work of natural history.

The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne
by Chris Sweeney

Journalist Chris Sweeney's richly detailed debut profiles pioneering forensic ornithologist and Smithsonian Institution taxidermist Roxie Laybourne (1910-2003), who utilized her avian expertise to solve murders, investigate poaching activities, and inspect bird-related plane crashes, the latter of which led to aircraft safety reforms. For fans of: The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson.

Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing
by Lili Taylor

Award-winning actor Lili Taylor first became a birdwatcher and nature advocate about 15 years ago during a break between film projects. She noticed how observing the sparrows and jays outside her house awakened her senses, especially her ability to listen, a skill she prizes in her acting work. Today she goes birding whenever she can, in the city and country, and will inspire her readers to rediscover the gift of noticing the world around them. For fans of: Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles.

Contact your librarian for more great books!