Groundbreaking Science

Updated July 29, 2025
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Is a river alive?
Macfarlane, Robert
Paper Book
Hailed in the New York Times as "a naturalist who can unfurl a sentence with the breathless ease of a master angler," Robert Macfarlane brings his glittering style to a profound work of travel writing, reportage, and natural history. Is a River Alive? is a joyful, mind-expanding exploration of an...
The lost world of the dinosaurs : uncovering the secrets of the prehistoric age
Schmitt, Armin
Paper Book
*A Library Journal Best Book of 2024* "An insightful and informative meander through the evolution of dinosaurs and other extinct species, with a touch of personal flair."--Steve Brusatte, professor and paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh and New York Times...
The elements of Marie Curie : how the glow of radium lit a path for women in science
Sobel, Dava
Paper Book
The acclaimed Pulitzer Prize finalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Galileo's Daughter crafts a luminous chronicle of the life and work of the most famous woman in the history of science, and the untold story of the many young women trained in her laboratory who...
Pillars of creation : how the James Webb Telescope unlocked the secrets of the cosmos
Panek, Richard
Paper Book
A 2025 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Winner The James Webb Space Telescope is transforming the universe right before our eyes--and here, for the first time, is the inside account of how the mission originated, how it performs its miracles of science, and what its...
Into the unknown : the quest to understand the mysteries of the cosmos
Johnson, Kelsey.
Paper Book
A leading astronomer and gifted teacher takes readers on a wondrous tour--"perfect for anyone who enjoyed Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" (Publishers Weekly)--of how science confronts the big questions about the origins, destiny, and fundamental nature of our universe...
Eavesdropping on animals : what we can learn from wildlife conversations
Bumann, George
Paper Book
"This book is fabulous and takes you close inside the wild world, where you feel the creatures whispering your old name."--Craig Foster, My Octopus Teacher Learn how to decode the secret conversations of wild animals all around you. From a Yellowstone...
Night magic : adventures among glowworms, moon gardens, and other marvels of the dark
Henion, Leigh Ann
Paper Book
From a New York Times bestselling nature writer comes a celebration of what goes on outside in the dark, from blooming moon gardens to nocturnal salamanders, from glowing foxfire and synchronous fireflies that blink in unison like an orchestra of light.  ...
Good nature : why seeing, smelling, hearing, and touching plants is good for our health
Willis, K. J.
Paper Book
A Next Big Idea Club must-read selection! An Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Nonfiction Book! A ground-breaking investigation into newly discovered evidence showing that remarkable things happen to our bodies and our minds when our senses connect with the...
To infinity and beyond : a journey of cosmic discovery
Tyson, Neil deGrasse
Paper Book
This enlightening illustrated narrative by the world's most celebrated astrophysicist explains the universe from the solar system to the farthest reaches of space with authority and humor. No one can make the mysteries of the universe more comprehensible and fun than Neil...
Rebooting AI : building artificial intelligence we can trust
Marcus, Gary
Paper Book
Two leaders in the field offer a compelling analysis of the current state of the art and reveal the steps we must take to achieve a truly robust artificial intelligence. Despite the hype surrounding AI, creating an intelligence that rivals or exceeds human levels is far more...
How to clone a mammoth : the science of de-extinction
Shapiro, Beth Alison
Paper Book
An insider's view on bringing extinct species back to life Could extinct species, like mammoths and passenger pigeons, be brought back to life? The science says yes. In How to Clone a Mammoth, Beth Shapiro, evolutionary biologist and pioneer in "ancient DNA" research,...
Hope dies last : visionary people across the world, fighting to find us a future
Weisman, Alan.
Paper Book
One of Heatmap's 18 Climate Books to Read in 2025 The award-winning environmental journalist's extraordinary, long-awaited portrait of hope and resilience as we face a fractured and uncertain future In this profoundly human and moving narrative, the...
Chemistry for breakfast : the amazing science of everyday life
Nguyen-Kim, Mai Thi
Paper Book
FINALIST for the Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books "This book shows that chemistry is not just relevant to life; it's really, really interesting."--Foreword Reviews, STARRED review A perfect book for readers of The Physics of Everyday...
Breakfast with Einstein : the exotic physics of everyday objects
Orzel, Chad
Paper Book
Your alarm goes off, and you head to the kitchen to make yourself some toast and a cup of coffee. Little do you know, as you savor the aroma of the steam rising from your cup, that your ordinary morning routine depends on some of the weirdest phenomena ever discovered. The world...
Ocean : Earth's last wilderness
Attenborough, David
Paper Book
Award-winning broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough and longtime collaborator Colin Butfield present a powerful call to action focused on our planet's oceans, exploring how critical this habitat is for the survival of humanity and the earth's future. ...
The underworld : journeys to the depths of the ocean
Casey, Susan
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * From bestselling author Susan Casey, an awe-inspiring portrait of the mysterious world beneath the waves, and the men and women who seek to uncover its secrets "An irresistible mix of splendid scholarship, heart-stopping adventure...
The underworld : journeys to the depths of the ocean
Casey, Susan
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * From bestselling author Susan Casey, an awe-inspiring portrait of the mysterious world beneath the waves, and the men and women who seek to uncover its secrets "An irresistible mix of splendid scholarship, heart-stopping adventure...
Buzz, sting, bite : why we need insects
Sverdrup-Thygeson, Anne
Paper Book
An enthusiastic, witty, and informative introduction to the world of insects and why we--and the planet we inhabit--could not survive without them. Insects comprise roughly half of the animal kingdom. They live everywhere--deep inside caves, 18,000 feet high in the...
Super fly : the unexpected lives of the world's most successful insects
Balcombe, Jonathan
Paper Book
For most of us, the only thing we know about flies is that they're annoying, and our usual reaction is to try to kill them. In Super Fly, the myth-busting biologist Jonathan Balcombe shows the order Diptera in all of its diversity, illustrating the essential role that flies play in every ecosystem...
The nation of plants
Mancuso, Stefano
Paper Book
In The Nation of Plants, the most important, widespread, and powerful nation on Earth finally gets to speak. Like attentive parents, plants, after making it possible for us to live, have come to our aid once again, giving us their rules: this is the first Charter of Rights of Living Beings written...

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