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Philip Ball demotes the role of the double helix molecule, arguing that biology is far messier and marvellous than many scientists suspected
A riveting account tracks a snakes-and-ladders path, from tough beginnings in Communist Hungary to paving the way for Covid vaccines
‘Fire Weather’ named winner of UK’s leading award for non-fiction at ceremony in London
Clive Cookson selects his must-read titles
The latest developments in climate science and humanity’s radical — and not so radical — solutions
Physics meets philosophy — and Dante — in possibly the most charming book by a mainstream scientist this year
Getting out of your comfort zone can help you overcome obstacles and achieve success, says psychologist and author Adam Grant
Writers tackle themes such as the roles of capitalism and ideology in the future of the planet
An ambitious study explores the problems and paradoxes arising from the startling breakthroughs of AI
Three books explore the future of galactic travel and the sights and experiences that await
From stone tablet to Kindle, two surveys of the history of the book probe what comes next, in the era of e-readers and text-guzzling AI
Three new books help recalibrate our relationship to the water that sustains us
Whether or not aspartame is carcinogenic, we know it is not the healthy option that many consumers believe it to be
David Scheel’s engaging and unsentimental study helps us understand the life of these vulnerable marine creatures
Clive Cookson selects his best mid-year reads
The podcaster and presenter breaks down the complex issue of additives with clarity and sensitivity but without moralising
Jonathan Kennedy argues that germs have shaped our world more than humankind has — and it’s time we took notice
An analysis of the potential of technology to transform personalised medicine is both stimulating and comprehensive
Nicholas Spencer’s highly readable history explores changing notions of human nature, and asks: who decides who we are?
Engrossing insights into dilemmas from fossil fuels to flying — and the political questions they pose
Study identifies new stomach disease in seabirds caused by microplastics
How a Greek philosopher’s ideas about the Earth and the cosmos remind us of the need to nurture scientific scepticism and rationality
By foregrounding humanity’s impact on nature and climate, Peter Frankopan reframes what matters most in the history of our planet
Two books encourage us to look at life afresh — via the senses and cultivating a sense of wonder in our day-to-day lives
If you want a nuanced worldview, reach for that novel
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