Mother Knows Best

As gene research and CRISPR gene editing become more common, it may soon be possible to use doctored embryos to create “designer” children. That science, amped up on steroids, is the subject of Mother Knows Best. Claire and Ethan watch their eight-year-old son die from a rare inherited disease. ClaireContinue Reading

How To

If you ever wondered How To send a letter home from the space station or land a space shuttle in downtown LA, I have the perfect instruction book for you. What if I use real science to solve hypothetical problems? For example, how can I get rid of this bookContinue Reading

Hacking Darwin

Hacking Darwin presents an evenhanded look at the future of genetic intervention from a non-scientist’s point-of-view. The first “test tube baby” was born using IVF in 1978. The human genome was fully sequenced in 2003. CRISPR, a method to cut and paste different genetic code into DNA, was developed inContinue Reading

Beyond Weird

Quantum mechanics is Beyond Weird, which is why this book’s easy to understand explanations, with minimal math, is such a great read. The first mention of quantum occurred in 1900 during prosaic research on emitted heat. This accidental discovery was to change physics and also our understanding of the universe.Continue Reading

Putting the Science in Fiction

Whether you write mysteries, fantasy or science fiction, Putting the Science in Fiction is an exceptional way to avoid factual errors. But it is also just a great way to catch up with current technology trends. When your spaceship dramatically explodes into a fiery cataclysm, scientists everywhere are screaming (withContinue Reading

Upgrade Soul

Upgrade Soul is a thought-provoking new graphic novel about the nature of humanity and the dangers of technology. Hank and Molly are rich and elderly.  They decide to do an experimental medical treatment that promises to make them young and healthy again.  Problems occur.  Ethical questions arise. What does itContinue Reading

Happiness Curve

Lengthy meandering summary of research studies about aging. The Happiness Curve is found worldwide in both males and females and even in apes. The curve shows that people get decreasingly satisfied with life (the definition of happiness used here) from age 20 to their early 50s. After bottoming out, theirContinue Reading

Artemis

More like Ocean’s Eleven than The Martian but still a 4 star read! The only similarity between Artemis and The Martian is the main character’s inventive use of science to solve their problems. Jazz is a smuggler on Artemis, the sole city on the moon. She is whip smart butContinue Reading