Reviews

Climate

‘Our Fragile Moment’ finds modern lessons in Earth’s history of climate

Michael Mann’s latest book, Our Fragile Moment, looks through Earth’s history to understand the current climate crisis.

Oceans

‘The Deepest Map’ explores the thrills — and dangers — of charting the ocean

A new book follows the race to map the seafloor, documenting how it’s done, why and what a clear view of the deep sea could mean for Earth’s future.

Ecosystems

‘Crossings’ explores the science of road ecology

Ben Goldfarb talks about his new book, which looks at the science that’s helping to prevent animals from becoming roadkill.

Health & Medicine

‘Blight’ warns that a future pandemic could start with a fungus

‘The Last of Us’ is fiction, but the health dangers posed by fungi are real, a new book explains.

Earth

‘The Next Supercontinent’ predicts a future collision of North America and Asia

In his new book, Ross Mitchell traces the dance of the continents through time to predict what Amasia, the next supercontinent, might look like.

Animals

Explore the past, present and future of ‘Eight Bears’

The book invites readers to meet the eight species of bears left on Earth and looks at how humans are shaping their future, for better or for worse.

Psychology

‘Fires in the Dark’ illuminates how great healers ease mental suffering

Kay Redfield Jamison’s new book examines approaches used throughout history to restore troubled minds and broken spirits.

Astronomy

‘Under Alien Skies’ imagines what the sky looks like on other planets

Astronomer Philip Plait’s new book takes readers on a thrilling ride to Mars, Pluto and even a black hole.

Health & Medicine

‘In the Blood’ traces how a lifesaving product almost didn’t make it

There’s plenty of drama in Charles Barber’s new book, which explores why a blood-clotting invention was initially dismissed.

Math

‘Once Upon a Prime’ finds the hidden math in literature

In her new book, mathematician Sarah Hart explains how math shapes all sorts of literary works, from nursery rhymes to Moby-Dick.

Humans

‘Period’ wants to change how you think about menstruation

Kate Clancy offers fascinating science and history about the uterus and menstruation in her book, Period: The Real Story of Menstruation.

Science & Society

The Smithsonian’s ‘Lights Out’ inspires visitors to save the fading night sky

The exhibition examines how light pollution harms astronomy, ecosystems and human cultures. But it also offers hope.