BOOK SCIENCE

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Book Science Podcast, I talk with science and environmental journalist Laura Poppick about her book, Strata: Stories from Deep Time (Illustrations by Sarah Gilman). We explore the geologic lens, a way of seeing the world that transforms ordinary landscapes into a 4.5-billion-year narrative. From the Great Oxygenation Event to the surprising role of mud in Earth history, Laura explains how geologists decode the Earth through layered rock. We also discuss the her "lyric preludes", which use poetry to set the scene. We also talk about stratigraphy as a contemplative, almost meditative practice of paying attention to the planet's oldest archives.Beyond the science, we delve into the human side of research and the personal sacrifices involved in field work. Drawing on our shared experiences of working abroad, and we reflect on how studying deep time provides a humbling perspective on our own lives. Whether discussing the literal taste of dinosaur bones or the ancient smell of prehistoric lakebeds, this conversation emphasizes that science is a powerful tool for connection, both with each other and with this our only home, the Earth.Key Topics Discussed:The Great Oxygenation Event (2.4 billion years ago)Rise of plants and the evolution of mud/rivers (458 million years ago)The Ediacaran period (first visible life)Stratigraphy as meditation and mindfulnessDeep time and Earth's historyField work in South Australia and Dingle, IrelandFind Laura Poppick:Laura's websiteLaura's substackLaura on blueskyLaura's science book recommendations: View the ListBook Science:Website: TrippCollins.comShow notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/episodesCheck out the Book Science Book Shop on BookShop.orgInstagram: @booksciencepodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailJoin me for a special one-year anniversary celebration of Book Science as I sit down with biologist and author Sönke Johnsen to discuss his beautiful book, Into the Great Wide Ocean: Life in the Least Known Habitat on Earth.In this episode, Sönke takes us on a journey into the pelagic zone—the open ocean that makes up the vast majority of living space on our planet. We explore why this "unbearably beautiful" world looks like it is lit by blue LEDs, the evolutionary marvels of transparency and bioluminescence, and the immense challenges of studying creatures that are effectively invisible.Sönke shares his philosophy on science communication, explaining why he chose to weave his personal memoir—from his childhood in Pittsburgh to his time on research submersibles—into a text about marine biology. We discuss the "physical pain" of the writing process, why humanizing scientists is essential for public trust, and the deep connection between artistic observation and biological discovery.Plus: We dive into the "observer effect" of deep-sea research (and why trawling nets is like driving a bulldozer through a café), the spiritual awe of biodiversity, and why Sönke believes that conservation must be driven by love rather than shame.Topics Covered:The visual beauty of the pelagic environmentBioluminescence: defense, predation, and communication in the darkThe intersection of art and science (featuring Alister Hardy)Writing as "thought made manifest"The difficulty of observing deep-sea behavior without disturbing itWhy admitting ignorance is a scientist's greatest strengthConservation strategies: "We save what we love"Find Sönke Johnsen:Faculty Profile: Duke UniversityBook: Into the Great Wide OceanAll books mentioned on Book Science: View the ListBook Science:Website: TrippCollins.comShow notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/episodesCheck out the Book Science Book Shop on BookShop.orgInstagram: @booksciencepodcastSupport the show

Dan Flores, environmental historian and award-winning author of Wild New World, Coyote America, and American Serengeti, traces 65 million years of North American natural history. He discusses the Chicxulub reset, lost megafauna and White Sands footprints, evolving ideas of extinction, the rise of conservation and the Endangered Species Act, and bold de-extinction work using CRISPR to recapture dire wolf traits.

Send us Fan MailSeason One Wrap-UpWe’ve reached the end of Season One of Book Science! In this closing reflection, I look back on the challenges, the guests who made the season possible, and the growth—both personal and creative—that came from finally putting this project into the world.From my very first conversation with Duane Hamacher to laughing it up with Scott Huler in Episode 8, this season has been full of experiments, stumbles, and a whole lot of learning.Along the way, we explored:Episode 1: Duane Hamacher – The First AstronomerEpisode 2: The Power of the Sea by Bruce Parker (solo)Episode 3: Tessa Hill & Eric Simons – At Every DepthEpisode 4: Firmament by Simon Clark (solo)Episode 5: Lynne Kelly – The Knowledge Gene &n othersEpisode 6: Helen Czerski – Blue Machine & Storm in a TeacupEpisode 7: Waves and Beaches by Willard Bascom and Kim McCoy (deep dive)Episode 8: Scott Huler – Defining the Wind & Delicious CountryI’m deeply grateful to every guest who took a chance on this unknown show, and to everyone who has listened. Thank you for being part of this first season. With your support, this small but mighty club of science book aficionados will only keep growing. See you in Season Two.Looking Ahead: Season Two launches this October! Guests include Carl Zimmer (Airborne), Dan Flores (Wild New World), Laura Poppick (Strata), Rebecca Lexa (Everyday Naturalist), Kevin Walsh (Planets of the Known Galaxy), Sönke Johnsen (Into the Great Wide Ocean), and Chelsea Wood (Power to the Parasites).Links & ExtrasWebsite: TrippCollins.comShow notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/episodesCheck out the Book Science Book ShopInstagram: @booksciencepodcastAuthor WebsitesScott HulerHelen CzerskiTessa HillEric SimonsDuane Hamacher Lynne KellySimon ClarkSupport the show

Send us Fan Mail**Update: Audio Issues Fixed Aug. 19 2025**I was in the local branch of my public library and I came across the title, Defining the Wind. I had never heard of the title, nor the author, Scott Huler. I was blown away by Scott's seemingly bottomless interest, his total commitment to investigation and understanding, and his equanimity when the universe doesn't deliver on expectations. I reached out to Scott with gratitude for the good read, and asking for some advice for an aspiring writer. He was fireworks in response, knife sharp and funny. This was the beginning of our correspondence.  I later read A Delicious Country, another book of full of curiosity and commitment. Scott retraced one of the earliest published accounts of a European trekking through the Carolinas. By this point I had started the podcast and knew Scott would make for a phenomenal chat. He did not disappoint. Scott is full of writerly wisdom, and you are going to love this conversation.Scott Huler's WebsiteShow notes and full transcript on my websiteOther EpisodesCheck out our Instagram @BookSciencePodcastSupport the show & get bonus content: Patreon.com/BookScienceSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWillard Bascom’s Waves and Beaches first appeared in 1964 and quickly became a classic of coastal and wave science. Favored by readers who wanted to dig deeper into the physics of waves, it has stood for decades as a clear and engaging introduction to the subject.But the new third edition? It wipes out. The wave science remains largely outdated, and new sections insert climate commentary that doesn’t reflect the current state of research.If you care about coastal science, wave dynamics, or climate, this episode is for you.Show notes and full transcript on my websiteUpcoming EpisodesCheck out our Instagram @BookSciencePodcastSupport the show & get bonus content: Patreon.com/BookScienceSupport the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Book Science, I'm joined by physicist, oceanographer, BBC presenter, and author Dr. Helen Czerski, a world-class communicator of science and an expert on all things ocean and bubble.We talk about her most recent book, Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World — a sweeping, human-centered tour through the ocean’s role as a planetary engine. We discuss how her background in physics informs her writing, her playful and cinematic style, the challenges of scientific storytelling, and why books still matter.We also explore:The hidden structure behind ocean storytellingWhy physics is for everyoneThe importance of curiosity and perspectiveHer work with the Cosmic Shambles NetworkFeaturing Indigenous voices in ocean scienceThe power of books as immersive tools for understandingShow Notes & Bonus Content:Show Notes, Full episode transcript, extended reading list and more at TrippCollins.com Find more episodes of Book ScienceExplore Helen’s work at HelenCzerski.net Learn more about Rare Earth on BBC Radio 4Support the Show: Love Book Science? Help keep the show going by becoming a patron! Join us on Patreon for behind-the-scenes content, and more.Stay curious, get off the scroll, and get out into the world.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhat if memory wasn’t just a skill—but a superpower embedded in our genes? In this episode, I talk with science writer and memory expert Lynne Kelly about her remarkable new book, The Knowledge Gene. We explore the evolution of human creativity, the deep science of memory, and how ancient oral cultures used storytelling, song, and ceremony as sophisticated memory systems—long before the invention of writing. We discuss the genetic clues behind memory and neurodivergence, the science of mnemonic techniques like memory palaces, and how understanding these systems can reshape how we think about education, knowledge, and even what it means to be human. Plus: Stonehenge, songlines, memory championships, and a case for putting music and art back at the center of learning. This is a wide-ranging and mind-expanding conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Book Science Show Notes Book Science PatreonUpcoming EpisodesInstagramSupport the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Book Science, I dive into Firmament: The Hidden Science of Weather, Climate Change, and the Air That Surrounds Us by Simon Clark. It’s a beautifully written, surprisingly compact book that unpacks the atmosphere we live in—something so ever-present and invisible that we often forget it exists at all. Clark brings both expertise and charisma to the subject: he’s a UK-based science communicator with a PhD in atmospheric physics and a popular YouTube channel. His book explores foundational concepts in atmospheric science, from Boyle’s Law to global wind patterns, and weaves in the long arc of scientific discovery—from ancient meteo-astronomers to modern climatologists. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just explain the science but tells the story of how we came to understand it, bringing in the people, experiments, and moments of insight that shaped our knowledge of the air.Book Science Show Notes Book Science PatreonUpcoming EpisodesInstagramSimon Clark on YouTubeSupport the show

Send us Fan MailFor this conversation, I am joined by Tessa Hill, a UC Davis professor, and Eric Simons, a writer and educator, to discuss their co-authored book, At Every Depth, that intertwines indigenous knowledge with Western science to highlight the urgency of ocean conservation amidst climate change. The book emerges from a collaborative writing process, structured to reflect varying depths of ocean familiarity, aiming to bridge the disconnect many feel towards ocean issues. At Every Depth emphasizes the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems through relatable human stories, making complex changes in ocean environments more accessible and tangible. Additionally, the authors spotlight the vital role of indigenous perspectives in understanding these ecosystems, advocating for a richer dialogue around ocean conservation. Inspired by pioneers like Rachel Carson and the work of historical figures such as Marie Tharp, the authors assert that it’s not too late to protect the ocean, urging communities to unite in conservation efforts and share knowledge for a sustainable future. More resources and event updates can be found at their website, ateverydepth.com.Book Science Show Notes Book Science PatreonUpcoming EpisodesInstagramSupport the show