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Nature and Science February 2021 "Real science can be far stranger than science fiction and much more satisfying." --Stephen Hawking |
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Stephen Hawking : a memoir of friendship and physics by Leonard MlodinowWhat is it about: Leonard Mlodinow presents an intimate account of his personal and professional relationship with the late Stephen Hawking throughout nearly two decades of collaborative work in a unique and deeply personal portrayal. What's inside: We meet Hawking the genius, who pours his mind into uncovering the mysteries of the universe. We meet Hawking the colleague, a man whose illness leaves him able to communicate at only six words per minute but who expends the effort to punctuate his conversations with humor. And we meet Hawking the friend, who can convey volumes with a frown, a smile, or simply a raised eyebrow. Mlodinow puts us in the room as Hawking indulges his passion for wine and curry; shares his feelings on love, death, and disability; and grapples with deep questions of philosophy and physics. Mlodinow captures Hawking's indomitable spirit. Why read it: This deeply affecting account of a friendship teaches us not just about the nature and practice of physics but also about life and the human capacity to overcome daunting obstacles. About the author: Leonard Mlodinow is an award-winning theoretical physicist and best-selling co-author of A Briefer History of Time |
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A message from the author: "See the world. Then make it better. I am 93. I've had an extraordinary life. It's only now that I appreciate how extraordinary. As a young man, I felt I was out there in the wild, experiencing the untouched natural world - but it was an illusion. The tragedy of our time has been happening all around us, barely noticeable from day to day -- the loss of our planet's wild places, its biodiversity.
I have been witness to this decline. A Life on Our Planet is my witness statement, and my vision for the future. It is the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake -- and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right. We have one final chance to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited." Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Science & Technology Book of the Year |
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The author's explanation: Science calls on its practitioners to do something irrational: by willfully ignoring religion, theoretical beauty, and, especially, philosophy-essentially stripping away all previous knowledge-scientists embrace an unnaturally narrow method of inquiry, channeling unprecedented energy into observation and experimentation.
Why you might like it: Philosophy professor Michael Strevens dives into intellectual history in this thought-provoking examination of the "inherent strangeness of the scientific method," which he claims owes as much to the social upheavals of the Thirty Years' War as it does to Isaac Newton. |
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| An Outsider's Guide to Humans: What Science Taught Me About What We Do and Who We Are by Camilla Pang, PhDWhat it does: Examines human behavior through the lens of autism, while using a variety of scientific concepts to explain it.
Topics include: What biochemistry can teach us about friendship, how game theory informs social etiquette, and why machine learning offers insight into human decision-making.
More about the book: Camilla Pang uses a set of scientific principles to examine life's everyday interactions: How machine learning can help us sift through data and make more rational decisions. How proteins form strong bonds, and what they teach us about embracing individual differences to form diverse groups. Why understanding thermodynamics is the key to seeking balance over seeking perfection. How prisms refracting light can keep us from getting overwhelmed by our fears and anxieties, breaking them into manageable and separate "wavelengths." Why read it? Pang's unique perspective of the world tells us so much about ourselves--who we are and why we do the things we do--and is a fascinating guide to living a happier and more connected life. About the author: Camilla Pang, a biochemist with autism, ADHD, and generalized anxiety disorder, is both the youngest writer and the first person of color to win the Royal Society Science Book Prize. |
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The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie MackWhat it is: Theoretical cosmologist Katie Mack's engaging survey of five potential ways in which the universe could end: the Big Crunch, Heat Death, the Big Rip, Vacuum Decay, and the Bounce. What does it answer: What happens to the universe at the end of the story? And what does it mean for us now? Dr. Katie Mack has been contemplating these questions since she was a young student, when her astronomy professor informed her the universe could end at any moment, in an instant.This revelation set her on the path toward theoretical astrophysics. Why read it? With lively wit and humor, she guides us through cutting-edge science and major concepts in quantum mechanics, cosmology, and string theory on a wildly fun, surprisingly upbeat ride to the farthest reaches of all that we know.
Reviewers say: A "rollicking tour through the nooks and crannies of physics" (New Scientist). A NewYork Times Notable Book of 2020; Named Best Book of the Year by the Washington Post, The Economist, New Scientist, Publishers Weekly, & the Guardian. |
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Saved by Science : The Hope and Promise of Synthetic Biology by Mark J. Poznansky What's it about: Scientist Mark Poznansky examines synthetic biology, the science of building simple organisms, or "biological apps," to make manufacturing greener, energy production more sustainable, agriculture more robust, and medicine more powerful and precise. Synthetic biology is the marriage of the digital revolution with a revolution in biology and genomics; Questions addressed: Why are there still so many infectious diseases? Why haven't we found cures for difficult cancers? Why hasn't any major headway been made in the treatment of mental illness? Why did 36 million people die of hunger in 2019? How do we expect to feed the additional two to three billion people expected by 2050? And how do we intend to stop, and not only that but reverse, global warming and the climate crisis? Why read it? Saved by Science provides readers with hope for the future if we trust in and support the future of science. About the author: Mark J. Poznansky is a research scientist, science administrator and science blogger.He is a member of the Order of Canada, a member of the Order of Ontario, and was CEO, president, and scientific director of Robarts Research Institute.
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What's inside? Soaring Gothic cathedrals, violent crusades, the Black Death: these are the dramatic forces that shaped the medieval era. But the so-called Dark Ages also gave us the first universities, eyeglasses, and mechanical clocks, proving that the Middle Ages were home to a vibrant scientific culture. From multiplying Roman numerals to navigating by the stars, curing disease, and telling time with an ancient astrolabe, we learn emerging science alongside Westwyk and travel with him through the length and breadth of England and beyond its shores. On our way, we encounter a remarkable cast of characters: the clock-building English abbot with leprosy, the French craftsman-turned-spy, and the Persian polymath who founded the world’s most advanced observatory. What's the takeaway? An enlightening history that argues that these times weren’t so dark after all, The Light Ages shows how medieval ideas continue to color how we see the world today. |
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The nature of nature : why we need the wild by Enric SalaWhat it is about: The Nature of Nature explores how the natural world works, outlines the consequences of its unraveling by our activities, and offers practical solutions-with a description of societal and economic benefits. What's inside? - The first ten chapters of this book are a step-by-step crash course in ecology-you might call it "ecology for people in a hurry": what species do, how they co-exist, and how the natural world self-assembles and works.
- Chapter 11 discusses do other creatures have a right to exist, and why? And finally,
- Chapter 12 explains why it makes more economic sense to protect more of the natural world than to degrade it.
Why read it? This book illuminates an inner appreciation for all life on Earth, instills a greater sense of humility, and helps us understand why we need a world with wild places. |
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What's inside? Le shares incredible stories from individuals whose lives are already being transformed by their inventions—a man who drives a car with his mind and a color-blind man who “hears” colors; an endurance racer paralyzed in a fall, who now walks thanks to neural stimulation and an exoskeleton; a man who drives a race car with his mind; even a color-blind “cyborg” whose brain implant allows him to “hear” colors. The NeuroGeneration reveals the dizzying array of emerging technologies—including cranial stimulation that makes you learn faster, an artificial hippocampus that restores lost memories, and neural implants that aim to help us keep up with or even outpace artificial intelligence—that promise to alter the brain in unprecedented ways, unlocking human potential we never dreamed possible. What's the takeaway? The stuff of science fiction is quickly becoming reality.New discoveries will provide us the ability to reshape ourselves and our thought processes, to improve our health and extend our lives, and to enhance and augment the ways we interact with the world around us. |
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Phallacy : life lessons from the animal penis by Emily Jane WillinghamWhat it is about: Presents an instructive and evolutionary tour describing remarkable animal mating rituals to explain how male genitalia are fundamentally intended for intimacy and not power. What does this book explain? Phallacy looks closely at some of nature's more remarkable examples of male reproductive organs and the many lessons to learn from them. What's the takeaway: Emphasizing our human capacities for impulse control, Phallacy ultimately challenges the toxic message that human male genitalia makes the man and the man can't control himself. |
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What's inside: On his regular walk one morning, Spike Carlsen realized there was an entire world outside his front door that he knew nothing about. How does that fire hydrant work, he wondered? Why are street lights shining more brightly than ever before? And, on a more personal level, why does an easy stroll around the neighborhood always leave him feeling more creative and spry, better able to take on the day? Why read it: Carlsen explains with wit and erudition the engineering marvels, unheralded utilities, and secret economic and health benefits hiding in plain sight. Engaging, entertaining, and informative, A Walk Around the Block is a narrative celebration of all the seemingly random stuff we encounter at any given moment. |
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Overview : a new way of seeing Earth by Benjamin Grant [Ages 10-Adult]What it is about: Discover Earth as you've never seen it before, in this stunning and unique collection of satellite images that offer an unexpected look at our planet. What's inside? After the Introduction: The overview effect by Astronaut Scott Kelly, the collection of images is divided into sections to show Earth as a planet of wonders, a planet that is alive, a planet of peril, a planet that feeds us, a planet that we call home, a planet that we travel, a planet that provides for us, a planet we change, a planet of marvels, and an explanation of the technology that makes satellite images possible. Why check it out? The extraordinary aerial photographs reveal Earth's natural beauty and show the surprising, fascinating, and destructive ways humans have impacted our environment. This eye-opening visual journey will forever change the way we see our home planet. |
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What it is about: Uncovers the amazing scientific explanations behind all sorts of questions that can pop into a young person's head. What is inside? Why is your elbow called your funny bone? How could you escape the grip of a crocodile's jaw? Which animal can breathe through its butt? Can an egg bounce? How can a giraffe's ridiculously long neck contain the same number of bones as a human's? How much does the Internet weigh? Why kids will like it: With delightful interactive features that invite readers to guess answers to questions and make links between different scientific concepts, this is a great book for reluctant readers and STEAM lovers alike. |
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What it is about: Learn how scientists are using nature as inspiration for a wide variety of new robotic inventions. What's inside: How have geckos helped improve surgical tape? How have whales helped improve windmills? Then there's RoboBee, an insect-shaped robot with a wingspan of 1.2 inches. When it flies, its wings beat 120 times each second. It's just one of the bots inspired by nature's creatures. You'll meet bots that bend, bots that swim, bots that fly, and bots of the future. Provides weblinks to slideshows, activities, and hands-on experiments for family fun. |
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Why read it? When might a fancy leaf costume be useful for a fish? And how do fish in Antarctica keep from freezing? Contains layered text, a hands-on activity, and plentiful back matter. Perfect as a read aloud or early reader for kids who are curious about science! |
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What it is about: Helps young kids understand how amphibians spend part of their time on land and part in the water, so they’ve evolved fascinating methods of surviving these different environments. What's inside? Discover how one frog uses sunscreen to protect itself through the dry season and how another uses its own mucus to create a cocoon. A cinquain poem at the beginning of the book offers a language-based entry into science details. Detailed illustrations, funny narrative, layered text, and backmatter all point science-minded, curious kids toward the fascinating world of animal adaptation!
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I heard a sound by David J. Ward [Ages 5-9]What it is about: An uncomplicated introduction to the science of sound. Kid-friendly experiments and examples are designed to help children make scientific discoveries by listening to the sounds of nature and using everyday materials to learn about vocal chords, sound waves and more. How can kids learn? Using a variety of items in most everyone's home, you can help a child:
• See how sound can pass through a string
• Use four straws to hear high and low sounds
• Show how vocal chords work
• Use wax paper to see sound vibrate
• Learn how sound waves work |
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Did You Miss These Good Reads? |
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| Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life by Louise AronsonWhat it is: a thoughtful, comprehensive exploration of aging, from medical concerns to identity issues to depictions of the elderly in pop culture.
Why you should read it: We all grow old (if we're lucky), but aging also affects our families, our economies, and our societies.
For fans of: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, Spring Chicken by Bill Gifford. |
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| An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Livesby Matt RichtelContains: four case studies that illuminate the human immune system, including a man who contracted HIV in 1977, two women with autoimmune conditions, and the author's childhood friend, recently diagnosed with cancer.
Why you might like it: Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer Matt Richtel interweaves profiles of individuals with the evolution of our understanding of the immune system and advances in immunology.
Reviewers say: "brilliantly blurs the lines between biology primer, medical historical text and the traditional first-person patient story" (Washington Post). |
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| The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence WilliamsWhat it's about: Science journalist Florence Williams, a contributor to Outside magazine, travels the world -- making stops in Idaho, Scotland, and South Korea -- to investigate the scientific benefits of being outdoors.
Food for thought: "We don't experience natural environments enough to realize how restored they make us feel, nor are we aware that studies also show they make us healthier, more creative, empathetic, and more apt to engage with the world and with each other." |
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