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Nature and Science June 2026 |
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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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The Impossible Factory: The Remarkable True Story of Kelly Johnson and the Lockheed Skunk Works, America's Innovation Machine
by Josh Dean
It began with a humble warehouse building in Burbank, California, and a charismatic young engineer named Kelly Johnson. In 1938, Johnson, who was then freshly out of the University of Michigan's school of engineering, got the idea for a small, agile, disruptive engineering shop--one that could help America's war machine innovate more quickly. By 1943, with the U.S. now in World War II and desperate for new technology, "Advanced Development Projects"--later nicknamed the "Skunk Works"--was born.
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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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Metamorphosis: How Insects Are Changing Our World
by Erica McAlister
Insects outnumber humans 200 million to one, and their impact on people and the planet boasts a similar magnitude. Metamorphosis: How Insects Are Changing Our World investigates how modern entomological wonders contribute to the prosperity of humankind
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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