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Nature and Science August 2026 |
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All about Allergies: Everything You Need to Know about Asthma, Food Allergies, Hay Fever, and More
by MD Rubin, Zachary
From viral social media sensation Dr. Zachary Rubin, an in-depth look at both common and surprising allergies, spotlighting patient stories, the history and science behind allergies, common myths, treatment options, and more.
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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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| The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, Deepmind, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian MallabyJournalist and author Sebastian Mallaby’s latest is both a rich examination of the innovations in artificial intelligence being created at Google’s DeepMind project and the story of its enigmatic genius co-founder, Demis Hassabis. Mallaby takes readers inside AI laboratories, filled with relentlessly ambitious researchers and investors chasing the exciting (and for some, terrifying) achievement of artificial general intelligence, or machine “superintelligence.” For fans of: Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World by Parmy Olson. |
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| The Book of Cannabis: The History and Future of the Plant and the Drug by Jeremy NarbyCannabis, a versatile member of the plant kingdom known for its many uses -- recreational and otherwise -- is enjoying a renaissance after more than a century being stigmatized as a social evil. In addition to covering its applications in medicine, agriculture, and as a natural fiber, anthropologist Jeremy Narby discusses cannabis’ intersection with disciplines including religion, sociology, psychology, and geology in a comprehensive and well-researched microhistory. |
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Can AI Ever Be Human?: Consciousness Explained
by Paul O'Hara
Can a machine ever truly be human? In an age where artificial intelligence writes poems, diagnoses illnesses, and converses with uncanny fluency, the line between human and machine seems to blur. Yet beneath the surface lies a fundamental distinction. Drawing on Bernard Lonergan's insights as well as the rich Catholic intellectual tradition, Can AI Ever Be Human? argues that while machines can simulate aspects of human behavior, they cannot cross the threshold into genuine consciousness.
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The Great Shadow: A History of How Sickness Shapes What We Do, Think, Believe, and Buy
by Susan Wise Bauer
From alchemy to wellness culture, from antisemitism to disposable plastic, a gripping account of how getting sick has shaped humanity. Anti-science, anti-vaccine, anti-reason beliefs seem to be triumphing over common sense today. How did we get here? The Great Shadow brings a huge missing piece to this puzzle-the experience of actually being ill. What did it feel like to be a woman or man struggling with illness in ancient times, in the Middle Ages, in the seventeenth century, or in 1920? And how did that shape our thoughts and convictions?
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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