Reviews of the best science picks for the week.
Purified. Peter Annin Island (2024)
In his 2024 book, Purified, environmental and water journalist Peter Annin explores the critical issue of water recycling. The cover features a recycling symbol with arrows of clear blue water, emphasizing the importance of recycling even when the subject is as unappealing as sewage. Annin, who has spent two decades studying water recycling, asserts that recycled sewage is safe for drinking. He argues that in the era of climate change, we can no longer take water for granted, including sewage. Annin believes that advancements in recycling technology could significantly alleviate the water crisis in the United States, particularly in the western regions, where water diversions have severely impacted the Colorado River Delta.
The Heart and the Chip. Daniela Rus & Gregory Mone Norton (2024)
In The Heart and the Chip (2024), Daniela Rus, a computer scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, collaborates with science writer Gregory Mone to address common fears about robots and their impact on employment. Rus, who has been passionate about robots since childhood, argues that rather than replacing human jobs, robots will enhance human capabilities, productivity, and precision. The book highlights the synergy between human and robotic strengths, exploring their integration in the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Through this engaging narrative, Rus and Mone emphasize the potential for a harmonious relationship between “the heart and the chip.”
In The Struggle for Public Health (2024)
In The Struggle for Public Health (2024), sociologist Fred C. Pampel examines the dramatic reduction in death rates from communicable diseases in the late nineteenth century. For instance, deaths from respiratory tuberculosis (TB) dropped by 49%. Pampel argues that this decline was less due to medical advances—such as the TB vaccine, which only became widespread in 1954—and more attributable to improved living standards, better nutrition, and a robust public health movement. The book delves into this complex history through seven chapters, each focusing on a public health pioneer, from epidemiologist John Snow to nurse Lillian Wald, elucidating their contributions to public health.
Deep Water James Bradley Scribe UK (2024)
In Deep Water (2024), science writer James Bradley reflects on the profound significance of the ocean, invoking Arthur C. Clarke’s observation that our planet, more aptly named “Ocean” than “Earth,” is fundamentally shaped by its vast waters. Bradley begins his meditation on the Australian coast in 2020, a time marked by unprecedented bush fires linked to record oceanic heating. He describes the ocean as “the memory of the world,” highlighting its crucial role in evolution, migration, capitalism, and climate change. Bradley warns that without better protection of the oceans, humanity is steering towards catastrophe.
