Reviews
- Humans
An amusing romp through word histories
From ak to wid, a new book makes etymology fun.
By Nathan Seppa - Science & Society
Centennial books illuminate Einstein’s greatest triumph
Scholars mark general relativity 100ths anniversary with books on history, biography, science.
- Planetary Science
‘The Martian’ is entertaining science fiction rooted in fact
With NASA’s help, filmmakers made story of astronaut stranded on Mars believable.
- Physics
Nobel laureate finds beauty in science and science in beauty
In ‘A Beautiful Question,’ Frank Wilczek explores links between math and art
- Astronomy
Go to Green Bank to listen to the stars
Visitors to the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia get a close-up with the world’s largest movable land object.
- Health & Medicine
Microbes make the meal, new diet book proposes
Researcher Tim Spector skewers conventional thinking about weight loss in ‘The Diet Myth’
By Meghan Rosen - Animals
A naturalist recounts birds’ lives in the Scottish Highlands
In Gods of the Morning, a naturalist chronicles how birds and other wildlife withstand the changing seasons in the Scottish Highlands
By Sid Perkins - Animals
‘Prehistoric Predators’ is a carnival of ancient dinosaurs, mammals and more
A new children’s book offers gorgeous illustrations and information for everyone about ancient carnivores.
- Chemistry
Three kids’ science books offer fun, fascinating experiments
No matter what interests kids, there’s a do-it-yourself science book for them. Here are three with entertaining and educational options.
- Science & Society
Monster fish, forensics and space exploration on display
Exhibits and opera infuse science into their experience.
- Neuroscience
A voyage into Parkinson’s disease, led by patient and journalist
Jon Palfreman’s Brain Storms explores Parkinson’s disease in the past, present and future.
- Tech
‘Monsters’ examines a history of technological hubris
Drawing on the Hindenburg disaster, a science writer develops criteria for recognizing risky technology.