Popular Science Books

The Laws of Thought - Tom Griffiths ***** In giving us a history of attempts to explain our thinking abilities, Tom Griffiths demonstrates an excellent ability to pitch information j...

Review: The Laws of Thought: Tom Griffiths ***** - The best I've seen at helping the reader understand how we think, and how technology produces similar results to intelligence without any understanding of what's involved. popsciencebooks.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-... #bookreview #popularscience #AI

Listened to my first In Our Time episode without Melvyn Bragg presenting. Felt a bit weird but good luck to the new presenter, Misha Glenny.

It’s an argument from biology supporting the idea that humans do not have free will (although it feels like we do).

Banger cormorant eye footage today 🪶

A Rare White Whale Sighting Tops the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards Marine photographer Jono Allen captured a unique shot of a baby white humpback being nudged by its mother, earning him the top prize.

A Rare White Whale Sighting Tops the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/02/worl...

Sense and Sensibility Here's a question. How many senses do humans have? There are plenty of senses we don’t have that other organisms do. For example, some birds...

Here's a question. How many senses do humans have? If your response is five (and it's hard not come up with this knee-jerk response even if you know better), you are way out. Time to think again: brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/02/sens... #humansenses #fivesenses #schoolerrors

'Smiling' fossil discovered in Northumberland The unusual looking fossil is estimated to be a few hundred million years old dating to the Carboniferous period.

Always nice to see a big smile www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ha!

Why did magic mushrooms evolve? We may finally have the answer Many species of fungus across the world produce psilocybin, a chemical with psychedelic effects in humans, but its evolutionary purpose may be to deter mushroom-munching insects

Why did magic mushrooms evolve? We may finally have the answer www.newscientist.com/article/2512...

Currently reading Determined - Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky. #PopSci

It’s going to be awesome!

Reminds me of the Russian foxes that were bred for tameness and developed floppy ears. Pleiotropy and epistasis as they say in the trade.

Sorry to hear you had a rubbish day. I like your game choices. Have you played Expedition 33, yet? It’s been a recent highlight for me.

Jealous!

How did that happen?

My top 10 books for 2025

Hardback copy of Matthew Cobb’s “Crick: A mind in motion – from DNA to the brain” lying on a wooden table. The word Crick appears in large yellow type on the spine and the cover. A pair of glasses sits atop the book.

First of my #BooksOf2026 and it’s a cracker. Or should I say a ‘Cricker’! @matthewcobb.bsky.social’s biography of Francis Crick is a propulsive and compelling portrait of a complex figure who towered over 20th century biology. Brims with insight. A superlative achievement.

Bless you!

The First Female Fossil Hunter I just reviewed The First Female Fossil Hunter by Jayson Kowinsky

Great history of science. 5 stars. www.netgalley.com/book/741995/... #TheFirstFemaleFossilHunter #NetGalley @penswordbooks

The study was primarily done in mice (if I’m not mistaken) so it seems a bit cheeky to show a human running in the abstract.

Seconded!

You had me at cloaca.

Nice to see a happy face!

I hate religious claptrap in my sci-fi so I feel your pain!

Your dose of cuteness 🦒🥰🥰🥰

Good morning friends

Not exactly ‘truffle hounds’ Sid is more interested in some ancient deer poo than this lovely Dyers Polypore ! Wonderful velvety cap . . .

Beautiful.

Flamingos at dawn
#photography

First big book haul in a while. Nice selection I think @karenhao.bsky.social @sgj.bsky.social

“The best science books don’t simply present facts or explain theories, they tell stories. They capture the creativity, determination and sacrifices involved in deepening our understanding of the world." said Dr Sandra Knapp FRS, chair of the 2025 judging panel. royalsociety.org/medals-and-p...