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Special Edition - March 2024 |
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Broad band : the untold story of the women who made the Internet
by Claire Lisa Evans
The YACHT lead singer and VICE reporter celebrates the lesser-known contributions of women to the history of technology, sharing brief profiles of such boundary-breaking innovators as Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, Elizabeth "Jake" Feinler and Stacy Horn.
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Clearer, closer, better : how successful people see the world
by Emily Balcetis
The New York University psychology professor and TED talk perception expert reveals the misperceptions that limit everyday life, drawing on cutting-edge discoveries to outline the unique perceptual habits, routines and practices of successful people.
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The climate book : the facts and the solutions
by Greta Thunberg
Gathering together the wisdom of over 100 experts, the world's leading climate activist arms us with the knowledge we need to combat climate disaster, showing there is hope, but only if we listen to the science before it's too late.
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Figuring
by Maria Popova
What it is: a lyrical exploration of the connections between great minds throughout history.
Why you might like it: Starting with Johannes Kepler and concluding with Rachel Carson, Figuring's discursive narrative follows an idiosyncratic, erudite path that blends science and art.
About the author: Maria Popova is the creator of the popular and expansively multidisciplinary Brain Pickings blog.
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Black hole survival guide
by Janna Levin
A professor of physics and astronomy and author of Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space offers a guide understanding the black hole and reveals how scientists' knowledge of them has changed our basic understanding of the universe.
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Remember : the science of memory and the art of forgetting
by Lisa Genova
The Harvard-trained neuroscientist and best-selling author of Still Alice presents an exploration of the intricacies of human memory that distinguishes between normal and concerning memory loss while explaining the profound roles of sleep, stress and other contributing influences.
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Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science--and the World
by Rachel Swaby
As these 52 concise, yet informative, biographical profiles demonstrate, women have always changed the world through science -- from the invention of the aquarium (Jeanne Villepreux-Power) to the development of protein crystallography (Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin) to the discovery of the Earth's inner core (Inge Lehmann). Recounting their (often overlooked) achievements in a wide variety of disciplines -- including astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, genetics, mathematics, medicine, and physics -- Headstrong also describes how each woman overcame significant obstacles to pursue her passion for knowledge.
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
by Rebecca Skloot
Documents the story of how scientists took cells from an unsuspecting descendant of freed slaves and created a human cell line that has been kept alive indefinitely, enabling discoveries in such areas as cancer research, in vitro fertilization and gene mapping. Includes reading-group guide.
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Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone
by Juli Berwald
Even as acidification, pollution, and overfishing continue to take a heavy toll on the world's oceans, jellyfish appear to be thriving. But why? Fascinated by these mysterious creatures, science writer Juli Berwald investigates their unique biology as well as the crucial role they play in marine ecosystems. Whether interviewing scientists and fisherman or engaging in some hands-on research (for example, their culinary uses), Berwald reveals the hidden and little-studied world of jellyfish.
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The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines
by Cassandra Leah Quave
Meet: medical ethnobotanist Dr. Cassandra Leah Quave, who studies plants to discover their medicinal properties.
Read it for: the author's enthusiasm for her chosen career and her reflections on being a disabled woman in a male-dominated discipline that requires conducting field research in the wilderness.
Further listening: Quave also hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast.
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Enchantress of numbers : a novel of Ada Lovelace
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Educated in math and science by her mother, the only legitimate child of Lord Byron is introduced into London society before forging a bond with Charles Babbage and using her talents to become the world's first computer programmer
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Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs
by Juli Berwald
What it's about: Marine biologist and science writer Juli Berwald (Spineless) takes readers around the world as she documents human efforts to save coral reefs, which are among Earth's most biodiverse ecosystems.
Destinations include: a coral genetics laboratory in Texas; Sulawesi, home to the world's largest reef restoration project; and protected areas in the Dominican Republic.
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'Universal' Reads: To the stars and beyond!
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Off-Earth : ethical questions and quandaries for living in outer space
by Erika Nesvold
Can we do better in space than we’ve done here on Earth?
We’ve pinpointed the destination, refined the technology, designed the habitat, outfitted our space residents. Are we forgetting something? A timely reminder that it’s not just rocket science, this thought-provoking book explores the all-too-human issues raised by the prospect of settling in outer space. It’s worth remembering, Erika Nesvold suggests, that in making new worlds, we don’t necessarily leave our earthly problems behind. Accordingly, her work highlights the complex ethical challenges that accompany any other-worldly venture—questions about the environment, labor rights, and medical ethics, among others. Any such venture, Nesvold contends, must be made on behalf of all humanity, with global input and collaboration. Off-Earth thus includes historical and contemporary examples from outside the dominant Western/US, abled, and privileged narrative of the space industry. Nesvold calls on experts in ethics, sociology, history, social justice, and law to launch a hopeful conversation about the potential ethical pitfalls of becoming a multi-planet species—and, ideally, to shed light on similar problems we presently face here on Earth. Space settlement is rapidly becoming ever more likely. Will it look like the utopian vision of Star Trek? Or the dark future of Star Wars? Nesvold challenges us to decide.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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