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Nature and Science December 2020 |
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| The Secret Lives of Planets: Order, Chaos, and Uniqueness in the Solar System by Paul MurdinWhat happens: Astronomer Paul Murdin takes readers on an accessible tour of the solar system.
Further reading: Mark Thompson's A Space Traveler's Guide to the Solar System or Erik Asphaug's When the Earth Had Two Moons.
Did you know? "The bottom line is that our solar system has no parallel among the known planetary systems. Astronomy has no fully accepted explanation for this yet." |
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| Ice Walker: A Polar Bear's Journey Through the Fragile Arctic by James RaffanIntroducing: Nanurjuk ("Nanu"), a seven-year-old polar bear, and her cubs, Siu and King, who live in the wilderness surrounding Hudson Bay.
What it's about: In this "bear's-eye view of a changing Arctic" (Kirkus Reviews), Canadian author Raffan vividly evokes a rapidly transforming landscape while documenting its inhabitants' struggle to survive.
Did you know? Although they've existed since the Pleistocene, polar bears have left almost no fossil record due to the fact that most have never set foot on land. |
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World wild vet : encounters in the animal kingdom
by Evan Antin
"Star of Animal Planet's Evan Goes Wild and People magazine's "Pet Vet" Dr. Evan Antin takes readers beyond his viral Instagram posts right into the wild world with him. World Wild Vet is an up close and personal look at planet earth, in all its wild glory. But beyond the laugh-out-loud stories and dangerous encounters with some of our planet's most exotic creatures, it is a clarion call to protect our delicate environment"
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The world according to physics
by Jim Al-Khalili
"This book frames the nature and importance of modern physics in an accessible, compelling, succinct way, showing lay readers that physics is crucial to our modern understanding of the world-and indeed the world as we currently know and experience it. Through the narrative, the book naturally describes essential facets of what physics is and why it has become such a (some might say, the) fundamental science. In addition, the reader will gain a sense of the grand scope and sweep of science and the collective, self-correcting nature of how science is done. For some, the book may serve as an invitation to physics. To others, it may serve to clarify the role of physics and describe a shared, global, centuries-long quest for fundamental knowledge"
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A Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebees
by Dave Goulson
Biologist Dave Goulson's childhood in rural Shropshire inspired a lifelong passion for nature -- especially insects. Falling in love with the humble bumblebee, Goulson established the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, dedicated to studying and protecting this "most gentle and friendly of insects." In addition to describing the biology, behavior, and life cycle of the numerous species of the tribe Bombini, he also recounts his attempts to reintroduce the once-common English short-haired bumblebee to the United Kingdom by importing a colony from New Zealand. As much a naturalist's memoir as it is a natural history of the bumblebee, this engaging and richly detailed book will delight fans of these fuzzy, buzzing pollinators.
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| Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill HeinerthWho: Canadian cave diver, explorer, and filmmaker Jill Heinerth, who proudly claims that adventure is in her DNA.
Where she's been: Florida's extensive network of caverns; Mexico's Sistema Huautla, the Western Hemisphere's deepest cave network; the interior of Antarctic iceberg B-15, at the time the largest free-floating object on Earth.
You might also like: Julie Hauserman's Drawn to the Deep; William Stone's Beyond the Deep. |
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An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
by Chris Hadfield
After watching the Apollo 11 moon landing on television, nine-year-old Chris Hadfield "knew, with absolute clarity" that he wanted to be an astronaut. It was a lofty dream -- for one thing, his native Canada had no space program. Nevertheless, through a combination of luck, pluck, and dogged perseverance, Hadfield achieved his goal, becoming one of his country's few military test pilots before launching an equally distinguished career at NASA, one that culminated in a 146-day mission as Commander of the International Space Station (during which he recorded the world's first music video in space: a version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity"). Don't miss this inspiring memoir, which is also packed with fascinating details about everyday life as an astronaut.
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| How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery; illustrated by Rebecca GreenFeaturing: feisty Scottish terrier Molly; Christopher Hogwood, a pig with personality; a trio of emus; tarantula Clarabelle, friend to children in French Guiana; and more!
Is it for you? Author Sy Montgomery opens up about her difficult childhood and lifelong struggle with depression, which is exacerbated by the passing of some of the animals featured in the book.
Crossover alert: Fans of the author's National Book Award finalist The Soul of an Octopus will remember charismatic cephalopod Octavia, who makes an appearance here. |
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| Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl; illustrated by Billy RenklWhat it is: a lyrical collection by New York Times contributor Margaret Renkl, containing 112 autobiographical vignettes about the natural world.
Reviewers say: "a jeweled patchwork of nature and culture" (NPR).
Want a taste? "The cycle of life might as well be called the cycle of death: everything that lives will die, and everything that dies will be eaten. Bluebirds eat insects, snakes eat bluebirds, hawks eat snakes, owls eat hawks. This is the way wildness works, and I know it." |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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