New Books in Science

Giuseppe Longo, a renowned mathematician and theoretical biologist, joins philosopher Adam Nocek to discuss their provocative book. They challenge computational reductionism, asserting that living systems can't be fully understood through algorithms. Longo explains how randomness drives development and the importance of historical context in biological evolution. They also critique the myth of DNA as a predictable program and explore the intricate relationship between mathematics and biology, emphasizing a new paradigm for understanding life's complexities.

As a graduate student at MIT, Steve Ramirez successfully created false memories in the lab. Now, as a neuroscientist working at the frontiers of brain science, he foresees a future where we can replace our negative memories with positive ones. In How to Change a Memory, Ramirez draws on his own memories--of friendship, family, loss, and recovery--to reveal how memory can be turned on and off like a switch, edited, and even constructed from nothing. A future in which we can change our memories of the past may seem improbable, but in fact, the everyday act of remembering is one of transformation. Intentionally editing memory to improve our lives takes advantage of the brain's natural capacity for change. In How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past (Princeton UP, 2025), Ramirez explores how scientists discovered that memories are fluid--they change over time, can be erased, reactivated, and even falsely implanted in the lab. Reflecting on his own path as a scientist, he examines how memory manipulation shapes our imagination and sense of self. If we can erase a deeply traumatic memory, would it change who we are? And what would that change mean anyway? Throughout, Ramirez carefully considers the ethics of artificially controlling memory, exploring how we might use this tool responsibly--for both personal healing and the greater good. A masterful blend of memoir and cutting-edge science, How to Change a Memory explores how neuroscience has reached a critical juncture, where scientists can see the potential of memory manipulation to help people suffering from the debilitating effects of PTSD, anxiety, Alzheimer's, addiction, and a host of other neurological and behavioral disorders. Steve Ramirez has been featured on CNN, NPR, and the BBC and in leading publications such as The New York Times, National Geographic, Wired, Forbes, The Guardian, The Economist, and Nature. An award-winning neuroscientist who has given TED talks on his groundbreaking work on memory manipulation, he is associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science

What if human intelligence is actually more of a liability than a gift? After all, the animal kingdom, in all its diversity, gets by just fine without it. At first glance, human history is full of remarkable feats of intelligence, yet human exceptionalism can be a double-edged sword. With our unique cognitive prowess comes severe consequences, including existential angst, violence, discrimination, and the creation of a world teetering towards climate catastrophe. What if human exceptionalism is more of a curse than a blessing?As Dr. Justin Gregg puts it in his book If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity (Little, Brown (US), 2022, Hodder (UK), 2023), there’s an evolutionary reason why human intelligence isn’t more prevalent in the animal kingdom. Simply put, non-human animals don’t need it to be successful. And, miraculously, their success arrives without the added baggage of destroying themselves and the planet in the process.In seven mind-bending and hilarious chapters, Dr. Gregg highlights features seemingly unique to humans – our use of language, our rationality, our moral systems, our so-called sophisticated consciousness – and compares them to our animal brethren. What emerges is both demystifying and remarkable, and will change how you look at animals, humans, and the meaning of life itself.This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose doctoral work focused on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science

Rafael Yuste, a distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and director of the Neurotechnology Center at Columbia University, discusses his book, Lectures in Neuroscience. He critiques the traditional neuron doctrine and presents the brain as a predictive machine that builds internal models of the world. Yuste explores the implications of neural networks, brain plasticity, and the potential links between creativity and psychosis. He also emphasizes the need for fresh perspectives in neuroscience and encourages future researchers to dive into this fascinating field.

Dagomar Degroot, an environmental historian and author, dives into his book Ripples on the Cosmic Ocean, exploring the links between our planet and the solar system. He discusses how Martian dust storms influenced Cold War dynamics and how cosmic events have shaped human innovation. Degroot raises ethical questions about altering other worlds and warns of contamination risks from space exploration. He also highlights the vital role of the Sun, recounts near-misses from solar flares, and emphasizes the need for global cooperation in managing existential risks.

Alison Bashford, a historian at the University of Sydney, unravels the intricate history of palm reading in her latest work. She explores why figures like Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin were fascinated by hands, linking them to identity and dominance. The podcast dives into chiromancy's medical roots and its surprising connections to modern genetics. Bashford highlights the enduring appeal of palmistry and how ancient practices intersect with contemporary science, tracing palm lines from fortune-telling to diagnostics.

Kenneth Aizawa, a philosophy professor at Rutgers University–Newark and author of 'Compositional Abduction and Scientific Interpretation', dives into the intriguing world of scientific reasoning. He explains how scientists infer unobservables, like the double-helix structure of DNA and the behavior of sodium ions in axons, through a method he calls singular compositional abduction. Aizawa critiques traditional views on abduction and emphasizes the importance of lower-level explanations, distinguishing them from broader hypotheses to shed light on the mechanistic foundations of scientific inquiry.

Heino Falcke, a renowned German professor and co-leader of the Event Horizon Telescope project, shares his remarkable journey to capture the first image of a black hole. He discusses the messy nature of scientific discovery, contemplating the intersections of science and faith. Falcke reflects on the 'Overview Effect' of viewing Earth from space, the universe's mysteries, and how stellar deaths forge the elements of life. He also ponders the implications of extraterrestrial life on religion and the awe inherent in scientific exploration.

Mark Berman, a cognitive neuroscientist and director of the Environmental Neuroscience Laboratory, shares his groundbreaking insights on how nature affects our minds and bodies. He reveals that a simple stroll in a green space can significantly boost attention and decrease symptoms of depression. Berman discusses the benefits of environmental design, from the impact of trees on health to the restorative power of soft natural stimuli over harsh urban settings. His nature prescriptions offer practical guidance for enhancing mental, physical, and social well-being.

In Still Life with Bones: Genocide, Forensics, and What Remains (Crown, 2023), anthropologist Alexa Hagerty learns to see the dead body with a forensic eye. She examines bones for marks of torture and fatal wounds—hands bound by rope, machete cuts—and also for signs of identity: how life shapes us down to the bone. A weaver is recognized from the tiny bones of the toes, molded by kneeling before a loom; a girl is identified alongside her pet dog. In the tenderness of understanding these bones, forensics not only offers proof of mass atrocity but also tells the story of each life lost.Working with forensic teams at mass grave sites and in labs, Hagerty discovers how bones bear witness to crimes against humanity and how exhumation can bring families meaning after unimaginable loss. She also comes to see how cutting-edge science can act as ritual—a way of caring for the dead with symbolic force that can repair societies torn apart by violence.Weaving together powerful stories about investigative breakthroughs, histories of violence and resistance, and her own forensic coming-of-age, Hagerty crafts a moving portrait of the living and the dead.Kelly McFall is Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science