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Top Science Fiction Books of November 2025

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Claire North’s ‘Slow Gods’ tracks deep space pilots

Shutterstock/Vadim Sadovski

If you aim to stay updated on the fresh wave of science fiction hitting bookstores this November, you’ll need to be quick. New Scientist columnist Emily H. Wilson emphasizes the necessity of reading Claire North’s Slow Gods, and I’m inclined to trust her judgment (look for her review in next week’s edition). Additionally, I’m bracing myself for Rebecca Thorne’s chilling tale of a zombie-like virus aboard a submarine (talk about claustrophobia!). Grace Walker’s Merge has a central theme that terrifies me. This feels like a spooky month in the sci-fi realm. Yet, I also anticipate a poignant read about the extinct Great Sea Cow titled Sea Beasts, described as heart-wrenching and beautiful, devoid of any supernatural terror.

Emily H. Wilson has expressed her strong appreciation for this sci-fi novel. In my experience, it’s rare to encounter a science fiction columnist advocate for a book so passionately. This story illustrates the death and rebirth of deep space pilot Maukana na Vdnadze, exploring a supernova that “obliterated planets and devastated civilizations.” As Emily notes in her upcoming column, “Read this book. If you enjoy science fiction, it’s essential.” She consistently emphasizes value, and so do I.

Sea Beasts Written by Iida Turpeinen, translated by David Huxton

While not precisely science fiction, this tale delves into fictional interpretations of science. My fascination with sea cows began in childhood through Willard Price’s Adventure. The narrative kicks off in 1741, with naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller embarking on an expedition to identify a sea route between Asia and America, where he discovers the Steller’s sea cow. Then, in 1859, the governor of Alaska dispatched men to unearth the skeleton of a massive marine mammal that vanished a century earlier, with restoration efforts beginning in 1952.

Illustration of an extinct giant sea cow

FLPA/Alamy

Though it may seem to tiptoe into the realm of fantasy, the publisher has likened it to a novel by Karian Bradley known for its time travel elements. The narrative unfolds within a library named “Jikoku,” filled with books containing the memories of individuals traversing the timelines between the post-war and Cold War periods in the U.S. At just 11, Lisavette finds herself trapped there, maturing into a world learned solely through the memories of the deceased. It becomes clear that government agents are infiltrating these times to eradicate memories that counter the official narrative…

We previously covered this novel during its self-publication in 2022, when our then-sci-fi columnist Sally Addie expressed enjoyment. Now endorsed by a major publisher, it seems laden with thrilling prospects and just the right amount of scare for the Halloween season, prompting me to finally dive in. A force known as the Anti-Meme preys on the book’s characters’ most treasured memories, covertly robbing them of their experiences while they remain unaware of the looming conflict.

Ice Written by Jacek Dukaj, translated by Ursula Phillips

Following the asteroid Tunguska’s 1908 impact, Russia unravels in a deadly winter. As the land succumbs to freezing temperatures, inhabitants flock to cities for survival. This extreme cold catalyzes a transformation of natural elements into bizarre new forms, spawning unique laws of physics.

Frozen Lake Baikal in Siberia

Shutterstock/Mura Tart

Amelia’s mother, Laurie, is battling Alzheimer’s disease. As her condition deteriorates, Amelia opts into the world’s first experimental fusion treatment designed for Alzheimer’s patients. Laurie’s consciousness merges with Amelia’s, creating a singular identity. Together with other participants, they are placed in a luxurious rehabilitation facility known as The Village…yet all is not as it appears. Frankly, the notion of treatment options alone is unsettling.

Featuring themes of zombies, submarines, and maritime horror, Nix and Kessandra delve into a massacre in an underwater city. As they descend, Kessandra unveils the truth: a disease has triggered the massacre, transforming individuals into mindless killers, and it’s on the rise…

Within this narrative lies an interdimensional conflict described as “one of the most savage the multiverse has confronted” (and it indeed is brutal). We follow Beth, a teacher-turned-rebel, alongside a keen gun-slinging hero, Wakeful Slim. Unlike prior tales in Pandominion’s universe, this story stands alone, crafted by the author of The Girl with All the Gifts (a must-read zombie novel).

An extradimensional war is occurring on Outlaw Planet by MR Carey

Shutterstock/Framestock footage

This monumental sci-fi narrative, Sun Eater, follows Hadrian Marlowe as he navigates life on the run from the Extrasolarians and the Soran Empire, whom he betrayed.

While not a new release, this 10th anniversary edition of humanity’s struggle for survival on a terraformed planet includes a special short story by Tchaikovsky, providing both enjoyment for fans and a perfect refresher for those new to the tale.

Described as an online cult phenomenon, this marks its inaugural English print edition. The narrative examines “the potential and pitfalls of human evolution,” delving into the author’s insights on genetic manipulation and the effect of colonizing Mars, accompanied by illustrations from Kosemen. Tchaikovsky himself described it as “a remarkable blend of scientific acumen and creativity.” Quite intriguing.

This thrilling high-concept story promises excitement. In a world governed by AI, everything comes to a halt right after your loved ones reveal their darkest secrets.

Mind Works Written by Neal Shusterman

This compilation of Shusterman’s short stories boasts a stunningly surreal cover and introduces readers to a realm where bats block the sun and a glacial life force resurrects the dead.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Google Granted Special Status by Watchdog to Enforce Changes in UK Search Practices

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Google is encountering mandatory changes in its search operations within the UK, following the competition regulator’s decision to grant the company special status and impose stricter regulations.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has confirmed that Google holds a “strategic market position” (SMS) in both search and search advertising. This classification indicates that the company wields sufficient market power to necessitate a unique regulatory framework.

The regulator now has the authority to mandate alterations in how Google conducts business in these sectors, as per new digital legislation. This announcement on Friday marks the first time a tech company has been recognized with an SMS designation.

The CMA has already indicated several potential changes, such as providing internet users with the option to select a different search service through a “choice screen.” This could include AI-driven competitors like Perplexity and ChatGPT among the available options.


The CMA is also looking to ensure equitable ranking of search results and to provide publishers with greater control over the usage of their content, including responses generated by AI. Features such as AI Overview and AI Mode powered by Google’s AI are also included under the SMS classification.

The CMA clarified that its ruling does not imply any wrongdoing and that no immediate actions will be enforced. However, this year it intends to initiate discussions regarding potential alterations to Google’s operations.

Will Hayter, executive director of digital markets at the CMA, asserted that enhancing competition in realms like search and search advertising—which involves advertisers paying to appear in users’ search results—could foster new business opportunities and stimulate investment throughout the UK economy.

He stated: “Over 90% of searches in the UK are executed on Google’s platform, underscoring Google’s continued strategic role in search and search advertising.” He added, “In response to the feedback we received post our proposed decision, we have today designated Google’s search service with a strategic market position.”

Oliver Bethel, Google’s senior director of competition, expressed concerns that this decision might jeopardize UK users’ access to emerging products and services.

He commented: “Several of the intervention ideas proposed in this process could hinder innovation and growth in the UK, potentially delaying product introductions at a time when AI-based advancements are rapidly progressing.”

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Tom Smith, a competition lawyer at Geradin Partners and former CMA legal director, noted that there is a substantial case against Google.

He remarked: “There exists a clear basis for eliminating some of the market distortions caused by Google’s monopolistic stance. This has already been addressed in the US and EU. Today’s ruling empowers the CMA to take similar action.”

In a separate inquiry, the CMA is evaluating whether Google’s and Apple’s mobile platforms should be classified as SMS-enabled under the newly established digital regulatory framework outlined in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The special mud used on MLB baseballs is said to have extraordinary properties

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overview

  • For years, special mud has been rubbed onto baseballs before major league games to make them less slippery.
  • The story of mud dates back to the 1930s, and MLB still relies on one small supplier.
  • New research explains the science behind why mud works. Mud contains a perfect proportion of clay and sand.

For more than 80 years, baseball has relied on special mud stashes to remove the shine from the ball's smooth leather and give fielders a better grip. This substance is applied to all baseballs before major league games.

The mud, called “Lena Blackburn Baseball Rubbing Mud,” comes from a single source: a secret location on the banks of a tributary of the Delaware River. Jim Bintliff, a retired printing press operator in New Jersey, collects mud from his grandfather's old fishing pond about once a month. He likens its consistency after processing to “cold cream or hard pudding.”

Despite mud being ubiquitous, scientists have been unable to explain why mud makes gripping the ball easier, or even provide empirical evidence that mud actually works. Until now.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania designed a series of tests to study the mud and even created synthetic rubber “fingers” to measure its properties. their results are Published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesprovides the first published scientific evidence that the power of mud is more than a myth.

“It goes on like a face cream, but it grips like sandpaper. It has this magical ability,” said Doug Jeromack, a geophysicist at the University of Pennsylvania and co-author of the study. states.

The magic mud will be applied to all balls used in Major League Baseball, including this year's World Series.Mark Griffey/Penn Engineering

Jeromac's team found that the mud contains the perfect ratio of sticky clay and sand particles. The latter drives rivets into the surface of the ball like barnacles to increase friction, but the material still spreads thin and evenly like toothpaste.

“The harder you work, the better it flows,” Jeromac says.

The authors concluded that attempts to create synthetic alternatives to mud (something Major League Baseball has researched) are foolish.

“It's a very special combination of ingredients that nature creates that makes it work,” Jeromac said.

Mud's origin story is rooted in tragedy.

In a match in August 1920, New York Yankees pitcher Karl Mays He fired the ball at Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman, hitting him in the head. ball It hit Chapman in the skull, killing him..

The death raised concerns about wild pitches and the danger of fresh, shiny baseballs slipping out of pitchers' hands. So in 1929, the National League president required umpires to dirty the ball to give it a better grip. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

However, finding a suitable substance proved difficult.

“They tried to use infield dirt, which scratched the leather too much. They tried shoe polish and cigarette spit. Those things made the ball too dark,” Bintliff said. .

Finally, in 1938, Philadelphia Athletics third base coach Lena Blackburn remembered the finely filtered dirt of her childhood in New Jersey. He returned to the source, collected it and began to apply it.

An undated photo shows Lena Blackburn Loving Mud's previous owner, Burns Bintliff, holding a can of mud.Lena Blackburn rubs mud

The mud was so popular that Blackburn set up a business to process and sell it. Eventually, he handed over the business to a childhood friend with whom he used to fish and swim, and his grandson Bintliff now runs the company with his wife.

Starting in 2022, MLB will require at least 156 balls to be prepared for each game, with at least 156 balls for each game. Scrub mud for 30 seconds within 3 hours.

Bintliff said MLB buys each team a bucket of mud for $100 each, adding two during the regular season and more during spring training. Some clubs, like the World Series champion Dodgers, are purchasing additional containers for their farm systems, he added.

“This mud acts as a super-fine abrasive, removing shiny coatings without damaging the leather or laces,” Bintliff said.

He collects the mud in 5-gallon buckets (usually about 10 to 20 buckets each time he visits the riverbank), drains the river in his garage, removes twigs and rocks, and uses tap water. plus processing. This process yields approximately 150 pounds of product on average.

Are there any special ingredients added?

“It's a proprietary part,” he said.

The scientists who studied the mud are not big baseball fans, but they became interested after conducting an informal analysis of the mud five years ago. Two students from Jeromac's lab then set out to prove whether the mud worked. They developed three important tests.

From left: University of Pennsylvania researchers Shravan Pradeep, Doug Jeromak, Paulo Arathia, and Chen Xiangyu.Felipe Masera/Penn Engineering

First, they used an atomic force microscope to analyze the adhesion, or stickiness, of the mud. Atomic force microscopy measures the resistance of the mud as the instrument is pulled away from it. Then, to understand how well the mud was flowing, the researchers placed the mud in a machine called a rheometer, which rotated the sample and measured its viscosity.

The third test estimated the friction between human skin and a baseball. The idea was to make a “finger'' out of synthetic rubber and apply a drop of whale oil instead of the oil secreted by human skin. The “finger” was pressed against a strip of leather baseball and rotated on the rheometer.

To test the properties of the magical mud, the group developed a custom-built device.Mark Griffey/Penn Engineering

Emanuela del Gado, director of Georgetown University's Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, said the properties uncovered in these tests are rare and sought after in cosmetics and other fields.

“Industry spends a lot of time tweaking formulations to get those properties,” said Del Gado, who was not involved in the research.

“Substances that are simple to us can be very complex, and they can tell us a lot,” she adds, adding that mud is a product of long cycles of flow, rainfall, and seasonal environmental changes. It was pointed out that it was formed by

These days, Bintliff's clients include college coaches, Little League umpires, and National Football League teams. He plans to pass the business on to one of his children.

So far, mud has withstood the new technologies competing to replace it.

In 2016, MLB tested balls coated with proprietary chemicalsAnd last year, commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the league was working with Dow Chemical to We will develop a “sticky ball'' that remains “pure white''. But MLB officials say the project is still no closer to an alternative solution to mud.

The study authors recommended keeping the mud in place because of new evidence that confirms what baseball players intuited more than 80 years ago: “This works,” Jeromac said.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Minister issues apology for data breach in Northern Ireland special education system

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The education secretary of Northern Ireland has issued a sincere apology after the personal information of over 400 individuals who volunteered to assist with a review of special needs education was accidentally leaked.

The breach was discovered when the Department of Education mistakenly sent a spreadsheet to 174 individuals, containing the names, email addresses, and job titles of 407 people interested in participating in the review of special educational needs events in Northern Ireland.

The spreadsheet included comments from several individuals.

The department has requested the 174 recipients to delete the information they received and has confirmed that this has been done.

Many affected individuals have reported their concerns to authorities regarding the data breach.

Education Secretary Paul Givhan stated, “The Department of Education takes data protection seriously and deeply regrets this incident. We apologize to all those impacted and have informed them about the breach.”

Givan has ordered an internal audit department to conduct a thorough investigation into the data leak to prevent such incidents in the future.

An initial report has been submitted to the Information Commissioner’s Office, and updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

This data breach is not the first in Northern Ireland, as a similar incident occurred last year involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Around 5,000 officers and staff from PSNI took legal action after personal details of approximately 9,500 employees were mistakenly disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request.

The leaked information included employee last names, initials, ranks, grades, workplaces, and departments, and was later discovered to have reached dissident republicans.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paper wasps with earthworm-like characteristics produce a special milk for their young

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Female American paper wasp and her offspring

carlos jared

These worm-like creatures secrete nutritious milk from their butts to nourish their hatchlings. This is the first known example of an amphibian feeding its young in this way.

American paper wasp (Siphonops anulatus) is a legless, egg-laying amphibian found on dark, moist forest floors throughout South America. It can reach up to 45 centimeters in length, with a deep blue cylindrical body surrounded by white grooves.

American paper wasps are born with spoon-shaped teeth. They use these to feed on their mother's skin, which is rich in lipids and proteins.

“But this skin nourishment only happens once a week,” he says carlos jared At the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil. That's not enough food to maintain the young's growth rate, he says, with some cubs growing 150 percent larger within the first week of life.

To find out where their extra nutrition is coming from, Jared and his colleagues filmed 16 female ringed wasps and their hatchlings.

The researchers observed the newly hatched chicks wriggling around the edges of their mother's body several times a day, often nibbling or sticking their heads into the rear opening known as the vent.

Closer examination of the footage showed that droplets of a milk-like substance were frequently spilled into the vent openings, suggesting that the chicks were actively feeding on it.

Analysis of the milk revealed that it contained fat and carbohydrates. “These carbohydrates are very important,” say team members Pedro Maillo-Fontanathe Butantan Research Institute also provides hatchlings with the energy they need to grow.

The researchers also discovered that touch and sound signals from hatchlings stimulate milk production in the mother's oviducts, or glands within the fallopian tubes.

Some paper wasps that give birth to live offspring secrete nutritious fluids for the fetus inside the mother's body, while amphibians produce fluids to nourish their offspring outside the body, Mailho-Fontana said. This is the first time that this has been found to be the case.

“The paper wasp is a real surprise box,” says Jared. “They are very secretive and live in an underground world that is different from the one above. They adapt to a world that is completely different from the one we know and invent some new behaviors to survive. There was a need.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Cruise reduces self-driving workforce by 25%, another electric scooter startup leaves market, and a special year-end message

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The Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Just sign up here and click on “The Station” to have our newsletter delivered to your inbox every weekend. Subscribe for free. Welcome to the station. It is the central hub for all past, present, and future means of moving people and goods from point A to point B. Hello! And goodbye! Well, at least until 2024. The station will be closed for a while until the end of this year. I would like to thank everyone who reads our weekly newsletter and sends me suggestions, tips, and criticism. Yes, I appreciate the thoughtful backlash. This year has seen new startups emerge (so many electric boat and RV companies, right?), more EVs on the roads, and numerous commercial milestones achieved in the self-driving vehicle industry. It was a year of lots of movement. Of course, there were dark moments and even shocking moments. Many startups went bankrupt, including a number of mobility SPACs, and layoffs remained widespread into the final months of the year. Two of the most surprising stories involve the self-driving car industry. Argo AI It made a comeback with a new AV startup funded by Softbank, but cruise. Cruise’s story continues to unfold and will likely play out until 2024. Last week was a tough week for Cruise, albeit as expected. As a result, the Cruise board, and by extension the GM board, are doing a housecleaning to restore years of technological advances. As part of that mission, nine top leaders were removed and 900 workers were laid off. We will continue to follow Cruise’s story next year. But that’s not our only focus. The TechCrunch team cares about the future of transportation, from new EV and battery technologies to electric and hydrogen aviation, self-driving cars, micromobility, and in-vehicle technology. It’s not just about highlighting the next new new thing. Instead, we strive to explain why it’s important and who it affects. In other words, we’re the kind of people who take unlikely exits and side streets to explore what others might avoid. Please join us. See you in the new year! Want to contact us with a tip, comment, or complaint? Email Kirsten at kirsten.karasec@techcrunch.com. Send your notes to tips@techcrunch.com. If you wish to remain anonymous, Click here to contact usthis includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging apps. micromobin The big talking point in Scooterville was the “seemingly” sudden decision. super pedestrian Just 18 months after raising $125 million, the company is closing its U.S. operations and beginning to consider selling its European operations. I don’t want to say I saw this coming, but given that in late November Superpedestrian began laying off several European executives responsible for global development and operations, Let’s just say I wasn’t shocked by the news. Superpedestrian’s Link scooters are available in about 60 cities in 11 countries, but are scheduled to be withdrawn from most markets by the end of 2023. The startup positioned itself as a partner for safe cities and invested in advanced passenger assistance technology by acquiring Navmatic in July 2021. That’s where Pedestrian Protection was born, Superpedestrian’s GPS-based safety system that could detect and correct unsafe rider behavior in real time. However, the system was competing with other camera-based computer vision systems popularized by Drover AI and Luna. Lime, the only big scooter company likely to survive, introduced its own version of rider-assistance technology on its scooters in July 2022, around the same time that Superpedestrian began cutting jobs. As the balance sheets of public companies Bird and MicroMobility.com (formerly Helbiz) demonstrate, shared micromobility is a difficult business to run properly. Bird has recently been kicked off the stock market, announced several layoffs and is likely close to filing for bankruptcy. MicroMobility.com has undergone not one but two reverse stock splits this year, and its stock price remains depressed. And after several failed acquisition talks, Tier Mobility also announced layoffs in November. Oh, and let’s not forget Boruto’s mysterious disappearance. My question now is who will be next to fly off to the great beyond? — Rebecca Beran This week’s sale We have lots of great deals this week! dimensional energy, a New York-based startup that develops sustainable aviation fuel from carbon dioxide emissions and water, has raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Envisioning Partners. Strategic investors include United Airlines Sustainable Flight Fund, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, Rock Creek Smart Aviation Futures Fund, DSC Investments, Derek US, and New York Ventures, as well as Elemental Excelerator and Chloe Capital. Existing investors also participated. summer timea Chinese new energy vehicle fleet management company, has completed an $80 million funding round to fuel R&D investment and real-time computational analysis. exponential energyThe Indian EV charging startup has raised $26.4 million in Series B led by Eight Road Ventures and TDK Ventures. This funding will help Exponent expand its 15-minute charging solution to five major cities in India in FY2024 and enter the intercity e-bus segment. The company plans to deploy 1,000 charging stations and equip 25,000 EVs with Exponent by 2025. Ric the mobility-as-a-service startup has raised €1.4 million ($1.53 million) from Habert Dassault Finance, AfriMobility (Akwa Group), angel investors, and banks including Bpifrance, Crédit Mutuel, and Caisse d’Épargne. meta fuela sustainable jet fuel startup, has raised $8 million in a round led by Energy Impact Partners and Contrarian Ventures. Vanmo, a São Paulo-based startup looking to expand electric motorcycle battery swapping in Latin America, has raised $30 million in a Series A round to capitalize on the growing popularity of bikes across the region. The equity and debt round was led by Monasees, with participation from Climate Technology Fund 2150 and Maniv Mobility.

Source: techcrunch.com