Books delving into the human experience and some of humanity’s greatest challenges were among the Science News staff’s top picks this year. What were your favorites? Share them with us at feedback@sciencenews.org.
Leigh Ann Henion, Algonquin Books, $30
As artificial light increasingly dominates nighttime, a writer advocates for preserving natural darkness and the ecosystems it supports, from spotted salamanders to glowworms and bioluminescent fungi.
Sadie Dingfelder, Little, Brown Spark, $32
A science journalist with face blindness, depth perception issues, and an inability to visualize mental images takes readers on a journey to understand her unique brain. Her memoir is both hilarious and philosophical, reminding us that our perceptions of the world are diverse.
Christof Koch, Basic Books, $30
A neuroscientist posits that information integration in the brain is what makes humans conscious. This provocative idea suggests that any system capable of integrating information, including computers, could potentially achieve some level of consciousness.
Arielle Johnson, Harvest, $40
Packed with colorful illustrations and fun recipes, this engaging book explores the science behind flavor, potentially transforming your culinary skills.
Eric H. Cline, Princeton Univ., $32
An archaeologist recounts how the Late Bronze Age collapse reshaped societies across the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East, with some enduring hardship while others thrived amidst the chaos.
Bianca Bosker, Viking, $29
Using science as a lens, a journalist investigates humanity’s primal attraction to art and its evolving role in the modern world. Along the way, she immerses herself in the exclusive and peculiar art scene.
Tim Smedley, Picador, $29.99
Human mismanagement and climate change are intensifying global water crises. This book offers solutions, from agricultural practices to policy changes, and emphasizes the importance of valuing every drop of water.
Olive Heffernan, Greystone Books, $32.95
As people increasingly claim international waters for resource exploitation, a science journalist calls for sustainable practices and the preservation of the ocean’s diverse ecosystems.
Marcia Bjornerud, Flatiron Books, $29.99
A seasoned structural geologist reflects on her life and the profound wisdom of Earth’s rocks in a book that blends memoir, geology, and a meditation on science and society.
Robin George Andrews, Random House, $29.99
What steps are needed to protect Earth from catastrophic asteroid impacts? A science journalist assesses humanity’s current asteroid defense capabilities, including NASA’s DART mission, and identifies what more is required.
Rebecca Boyle, Random House, $28.99
This exploration of our lunar companion details how the moon has shaped life on Earth and made the planet habitable. It also examines the moon’s cultural and spiritual influence on human societies and the threats posed by humanity’s ambitions.
Sarah Scoles, Bold Type Books, $30
Interviews with physicists responsible for maintaining and modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal, along with other researchers and activists, reveal the complex emotions and contradictions within the nuclear weapon industry. These conversations reflect on the future of nuclear research and its paradoxical role in promoting peace.
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