A selection of science-based books from the year that together shine new light on who we are and why we think and act as we do.

It’s that time of the year when you’re making your list, checking it twice, for gifts that spark a love of science for the kids in your life. Ira talks with Mahnaz Dar, young readers’ editor at Kirkus ...

From a deep dive on a fatal space shuttle disaster to a study of a dozen iconic trees, these are our favorite titles this year Joe Spring, Riley Black, Shi En Kim, Dan Falk, Christian Elliott and ...

Thankfully, we can still turn to our bookshelves — and podcasts — to ground us. We tapped science doyenne Alie Ward, the host of the funny cult favorite “ Ologies” podcast, to share her picks for the ...

“He retains a sharp memory of the trap, last summer, his forefoot clamped and the utter terror, and of later waking, woozy, and the awful, human scent all over him, and the thing awkward around his ...

So: what were the best works of science fiction published this year? I will start with two new books that aren’t actually new, but have only just been published in English. First up is Ice by Jacek ...

Kid lit experts weigh in on some of the year’s best science titles. Plus, what to look for when choosing a book for the child in your life. Are you hoping to inspire a young reader in your life with ...

From “experimental archaeology” to the mysterious appeal of exploration, the wide-ranging subjects detailed in these titles captivated Smithsonian magazine’s science contributors this year Joe Spring, ...

In 2025, our science reporters followed the first confirmed glimpse of a colossal squid and a rare look at dinosaur blood vessels. We watched the odds of a future asteroid impact climb to ...