Books

Censoring what children read deprives them of reality and the chance to feed their curiosity and develop empathy

Oak trees have genetic flexibility that allows them to solve ecological problems. But even they will need our help to survive climate change

In End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland, the title is flipped, but cyberpunk pleasures remain

A science photo book probes the colors we can see—and even “forbidden” colors we can’t

In Absolution, the fourth novel in Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach saga, scientists try to know the unknowable

Vince Beiser’s tour of the “Electro-Digital Age” puts resource extraction at the center

Robin Wall Kimmerer changed our ideas of sustainability. Can she do the same for economics?

In The Dispossessed, a physicist is caught between societies

A history of citrus fruits, from the Han Dynasty to the modern orange juice industry

Lessons from the people making forest ecosystems more resilient

Marie Curie is well known for her chemistry achievements but less so for helping other women succeed in science

Scientific American’s staff share their favorite sci-fi books, from beloved classics to overlooked gems and our modern favorites