NLCS science soc.

01

The Epigenetics Revolution

By Nessa Carey

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(If you manage to bear and get used to the patronising tone of the first 3 chapters, this is a must-read! Concepts are explained simply, using analogies and lots of examples, and you will learn so much, so quickly - about epigenetics in general, as well as seemingly unrelated ideas!!)

02

Astrophysics for people in a hurry

By Neil deGrasse Tyson

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(As someone who dropped physics but still finds it so interesting (and I'm sure I'm not the only one), this sounds incredible! Explore ideas about quantum mechanics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the nature of space and time! Definitely a light read ;))

03

Molecules of Murder

By John Emsley

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(Analyses the chemicals used in famous murder cases and their effects on the human body! Chemistry and Criminology - what more could you want!)

04

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

By Rebecca Skloot

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(Not as 'science-y', just as important. Story of the first human cells grown in cell culture, their impact in decades of medical research, and the unethical way they were obtained. "It captures the beauty and drama of scientific discovery, as well as its human consequences."

05

A Brief History of Time (& The Universe in a Nutshell)

By Stephen Hawking

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(The first book explores cosmology and the sequel expands on this, as well as introducing branes and M theory. (No idea what those are either, but we'll find out if we read the book!))

06

Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters

By Matt Ridley

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(Although I personally have not yet read this book, I've heard unanimous great reviews about it and feel it's got to be here somewhere! Each chapter is dedicated to a newly found gene from a pair of chromosomes and goes through its functions, as well as giving us an overall story of the past and future of our species!)

07

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements 

By Sam Kean

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(How the elements of the periodic table were found and their effects in human history!)

08

Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules changed the course of History

By Penny Le Couteur

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(When temperatures drop below 56°F, tin crumbles into powder. Were the soldiers of the Grande Armée acutee, of the 1812 Russian campaign, fatally weakened by cold because the buttons of their uniforms fell apart?)

09

Chaos

By James Gleick

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(Recommended to those without much knowledge on chaos theory and its origins!)

10

Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?

By Frans de Waal

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(Ok I am so glad I made this list, else I wouldn't have found this hidden gem in my goodreads to-read! Doesn't this sound SO COOL!? Considers the concept of conciousness and whether animals have a different form, one which is not lower than ours, but on par. Honestly, I recommend this more than all the others and am SO EXCITED to read it at some point!)

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