Smyrna Public Library: Nature and Science: April 2026

Recent Releases

Earth and Life: A Four Billion Year Conversation
by Andrew H. Knoll

The author traces how all life is sustained by Earth's geological and atmospheric dynamics, and how life itself shapes the physical environment. He traces four billion years of Earth’s evolution and explains how life and Earth interact to cycle essential elements. These processes enable the diversity of life across the planet.

The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie
by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

A fresh, charming, socially conscious tour of the mysteries of space-time, from the award-winning author of The Disordered Cosmos. Prescod-Weinstein takes readers on a mind-altering journey to the boundaries of the universe, inviting us to spend time at the edge of what we know about space-time and about ourselves.

When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World
by Suzanne Simard

The scientist who pioneered the concept of sophisticated communication between trees, Suzanne Simard now offers a powerful vision for saving our forests based on nature's deep-rooted cycles of renewal.

Simply Chemistry
by Dk

Combining bold graphics with easy-to-understand text, Simply Chemistry is the perfect introduction for those who are short on time but hungry for knowledge. This book covers the core concepts of chemistry in a fresh and accessible way--from the structure of an atom and the 118 elements of the Periodic Table, to combustion and explosive reactions.

Nature Speak: Signs, Omens and Messages in Nature
by Ted Andrews

Nature is the most powerful realm of spirituality on Earth, source of primal energies and great spirits. It is an initiatory path, and within it are most of life's answers, doorways to other realms, and a myriad of wonders. The author of Animal-Speak now explores the lessons and meanings of the plant kingdom through dictionaries of landscapes, trees, flowers, herbs, and more.

Bats of the World: A Guide to Every Family
by Winifred Frick

This beautifully illustrated guide demystifies these fascinating creatures, blending the latest science with fact-filled profiles of representative species, from the tiny bumblebee bat to the imposing giant golden crowned flying fox.

How Flowers Made Our World: The Story of Nature's Revolutionaries
by David George Haskell

Flowers are so much more than aesthetically pleasing, asserts biologist David George Haskell: they are nature’s true survivors. In addition to providing food and shelter for insects and birds, they adapt incredibly quickly to environmental changes, foster biodiversity, and are even capable of things like self-reproduction and “chromosome doubling."

Hotwired: How the Hidden Power of Heat Makes Us Stronger
by Bill Gifford

From the bestselling coauthor of Outlive comes a radical exploration of the science of heat adaptation and sweat therapy to tap into the evolutionary superpowers that we've forgotten we possess.

Let's Botanize: 101 Ways to Connect with Plants
by Ben Goulet-Scott

This fascinating book of 101 botany prompts is about the joy of getting to know plants through observation and attention. With easy entry points and lush photography, the 101 prompts inspire readers to engage with plant life meaningfully each day by observing the parts, patterns, and processes that make plants so amazing.

I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right
by Matt Kaplan

An energetic and impassioned work of popular science about scientists who have had to fight for their revolutionary ideas to be accepted--from Darwin to Pasteur to modern day Nobel Prize winners.

Contact your librarian for more great books!