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Nature and Science August 2026 |
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| Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness by Megan Eaves-EgenesThere is nothing much simpler, more beautiful, or more terrifying in nature than darkness, yet Earth is increasingly bathed in 24-hour artificial light, disrupting circadian rhythms, invading habitats, and obscuring our view of the stars. Travel writer Megan Eaves-Egenes, following a year marked by personal trauma, journeys to dark-sky locations around the globe, sees the Milky Way in all its glory, learns about Indigenous astronomy, and discovers the healing power of the dark, expressed with “sumptuous, confessional storytelling” (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| The Madness Pill: One Doctor's Quest to Understand Schizophrenia by Justin GarsonPhilosopher Justin Garson’s biography of Dr. Solomon Snyder, a pharmacology professor at Johns Hopkins University, examines Snyder’s research in the 1970s and '80s to isolate the cause of schizophrenia. Although Snyder’s research ultimately failed, he instead discovered the brain’s dopamine receptors, which would in turn lead to the development of a range of useful psychoactive drugs and forever change the practice of psychopharmacology. Read-alike: Lithium: A Doctor, a Drug, and a Breakthrough by Walter A. Brown. |
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| In Defense of Sunlight: The Surprising Science of Sun Exposure by Rowan JacobsenThe inherited wisdom concerning sunlight on skin these days is the less the better. Not so, according to science writer Rowan Jacobsen. He argues that while sun exposure has been linked to some skin cancers, the most recent studies indicate that UV rays are less harmful to skin than we thought and, furthermore, moderate daily sun exposure is good for you, triggering production of vitamin D, increasing alertness, and improving mood. The big takeaway: just try not to burn! |
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