plainpicture/Michiru Nakayama
Numerous scientific books are set to release throughout the coming year, and a vast selection awaits. After reviewing a multitude of catalogs from various publishers, I curated a list of the science books I’m most eager to dive into, organized by category to help you easily discover your next favorite read. Whether you’re a voracious reader like me or just exploring, you can wrap up this year with newfound expertise, exploring topics ranging from detecting psychopaths to captivating numerical insights.
Space
Let’s embark on an enlightening journey with environmental historian Dagomar DeGroot. He presents Ripples in the Cosmic Ocean, analyzing how our solar system has influenced humanity. This includes fascinating insights into Martian dust storms that have sparked alien narratives and a comet impact on Jupiter that led to the inception of planetary defense strategies. DeGroot advocates for “interplanetary environmentalism,” a compelling concept indeed.
Our exploration continues with astrophysicist Emma Chapman. In her work, Radio Universe, she unveils how we harness radio waves to probe the cosmos, guiding readers on a journey from Earth to the expansive reaches of the Milky Way, traversing through black holes and pulsars.
New Scientist columnist Chanda Prescod Weinstein extends this journey, merging poetry and culture in The End of Space and Time, to elucidate theoretical physics and the quantum fabric of space-time.
Health
In 2026, I’m particularly excited about two critical health themes. The first focuses on leveraging science for better health. In Age Code, health journalist David Cox delves into nutritional science, illustrating how it can decelerate biological aging. In another compelling read, surgeon Charles Knowles, a clinical research director and recovering alcoholic, writes Why Do You Drink Too Much?, while Bill Gifford’s Hot Wired discusses utilizing heat for health improvement, emphasizing our evolutionary adaptation to high temperatures.
On the investigative front, physician Zand van Tulleken aims to expose the realities of the medical industry in Make Me Well, while journalist Deborah Cohen shares insights on the interplay of influencers and AI-powered diagnostics in Bad Influence. Amy Donnellan’s work probes the GLP-1 drug Ozempic’s stories in Fall Off the Scale, while Alev Scott dives into the commodification of motherhood with Dollar Box.
Mathematics
This year in mathematics, Richard Elwes’s Huge Numbers examines how expanding our counting capabilities has influenced human thought. Meanwhile, Ian Stewart’s Reaching the Limit delicately navigates through the complexities of mathematics, unraveling some of its most intriguing puzzles.
Technology and AI
Emergent Mind features computational neuroscientist Gaurav Suri and psychology professor Jay McClelland, discussing the emergence of complex systems from simpler interactions, applicable to both the human brain and AI. Their insights are complemented by Tom Griffiths’ Laws of Thinking, which uses mathematics to decode thought processes while contrasting AI mechanisms with human cognition.
Sociologist James Muldoon takes on the technology-human relationship in Love Machine, exploring chatbots, and attempting to converse with the deceased. Journalists Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor’s Apocalyptic Fascism and the Fight for a Living World unearth the rise of far-right, capturing an “apocalyptic alliance” among various factions while offering pathways for resistance.
Two notable technical books include Little Blue Dot by journalist Katherine Dunn, chronicling the transformation of GPS from military origins to everyday necessity, and Mega Build by construction influencer Fred Mills, which focuses on ten megaprojects set to reshape the world.
Environment
In a hopeful message, author Rebecca Solnit captivates readers with The Beginning Comes After the End, reflecting on revolutionary thoughts over the past five decades concerning racial, gender, and environmental paradigms. Simultaneously, journalist Fred Pearce’s Nevertheless offers a “handbook for optimal climate engagement,” advocating that effective changes are within our grasp.
Biology professor Dave Golson’s Eat the Earth Well tackles the toxic food system while journalist Jeevan Basagar’s The Surge investigates rising flooding issues, addressing that 150 million people will live below high tide lines by 2050 and presenting groundbreaking engineering solutions.
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Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor team up to narrate the emergence of the far right in their new book.
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Nature
The vast repercussions of climate change manifest universally in Where Earth and Sky Meet, authored by conservation biologist Louise K. Bright. Her exploration into the Antarctic wilderness reveals how global warming is reshaping this unique region.
Marine biologist Ruth Searle’s Intertidal Zone immerses readers in the fragile ecosystem where land intertwines with sea, and the dynamic reshaping by human actions. Zoologist Joe Winpenny advocates for “nature’s least loved animals” in Beauty of the Beast, emphasizing the need to defend these creatures amid critical biodiversity declines.
Psychology
This year, our focus on psychology uncovers tremendous insights. I highly recommend Art Cure by psychobiologist Daisy Fancourt, who showcases how the arts can enhance health and well-being, drawing from various scientific fields.
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Celebrity doctor Zand van Tulleken pledges to unveil the “world of health” in Make Me Well.
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Furthermore, neuroscientists tackle the socio-technological nuances we confront. Hannah Critchlow explores resilience in 21st Century Brain, while Paul Goldsmith examines how ancient cognition adapts to modern landscapes in Evolving Brain.
Rian ten Brinke analyzes interpersonal complexities in Toxic People, helping us identify harmful relationships. Others, like Michael Pollan in The World Appears, delve into the intricate realms of consciousness from multiple perspectives.
Overall, this year presents a spectacular opportunity to refresh your bookshelves with transformative reads!
Best of the Best: Top 4 Picks of 2026
A Brief History of the Universe (And Our Place in It)
Written by Sarah Alam Malik
This book takes readers on an exhilarating journey, highlighting pivotal discoveries that transformed our comprehension of the universe, tracing from Babylonian astronomy to the Copernican Revolution.
Savage Landscape
Written by Cal Flynn
In her captivating work, Flynn travels through remote wilderness areas, exploring the intricacies of conservation and nature’s preservation.
I Am Not a Robot
Written by Joanna Stern
In a bold exploration, technology reporter Joanna Stern investigates the implications of AI replacing human roles within society.
Bird Story
Written by Steve Brusatte
In this enlightening narrative, paleontologist Steve Brusatte explores the evolutionary story of birds, often referred to as “the dinosaurs among us.” Curious fact: is a penguin larger than a gorilla? Is a duck heavier than a cow? Find out in this captivating read.
Source: www.newscientist.com
