Joining the NSA’s hidden team of Black codebreakers in 1950
In “Decoding the Devil,” a woman named Iris joins a hidden NSA unit of Black codebreakers decoding Soviet messages during the Cold War.
Before its catastrophic end, Pompeii was full of life
In “The Lost Voices of Pompeii,” ordinary people live their lives and seek to be remembered in the turbulent years before Mt. Vesuvius erupts.
Tiny wasps emerge from a caterpillar, and reveal a hidden world
In “Hidden Creatures,” a young entomologist discovers the miraculous world of parasites when cocoons sprout from a caterpillar.
Learning to trust the night sky, one star at a time
In “The Wild Dark,” a young Craig Childs finds himself alone in a dark wilderness. As the Milky Way comes into focus, fear turns to wonder.
10 great nature books for kids
Pond life, tern migration, and the science of animal nests: Literacy experts share their favorite nonfiction children’s books about nature.
Our evolutionary path to parenting—and sharing the load
“The Creatures’ Guide to Caring” explores how communal child-rearing allowed animals from wasps to humans to evolve and thrive.
How the financial industry has curbed drug development
“Pharma Monopoly” shows how the financial industry’s influence over pharmaceutical decision-making means fewer new drugs and higher prices.
Exploring the night sky with author Craig Childs
Join SciFri Book Club on July 31 for a livestream Q&A with the author of “The Wild Dark.”
In a never-ending stream of data, a nonhuman voice emerges
In “Hole in the Sky,” a threat forecaster confined to a bunker deciphers a mysterious code. One day, a new kind of voice comes through.