The adventures of Alexander von Humboldt, the lost hero of science.
Book review: ‘The Invention of Nature’ by Andrea Wulf
history of science
Book review: ‘The Invention of Science’ by David Wootton
A new history of the Scientific Revolution by David Wootton.
Darwin on earthworms: small change writ large
A review of Charles Darwin's wonderful final book, ‘The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms, with Observations on their Habits’.
Bacon and X
Not wishing to boast, but Richard Carter didn't get C-minuses—and he certainly didn't get SEE MEs.
LRB letter: ‘Weather-forecasting frogs’
On the unlikely 17th and 18th-century German fashion of keeping tree frogs to forecast the weather.
The great Darwin fossil hunt
For my 50th birthday, a friend beyond compare organised a very special birthday present for the only self-confessed ‘Darwin groupie’ in her life.
Bookshelf triage
When bookshelves become full, only the fittest volumes survive.
LRB letter: ‘Ancient Refrigerators’
A possible solution to a well-known conundrum about Ancient Rome.
LRB letter: ‘Darwin’s Flatulence’
How Charles Darwin's legendary flatulence wasn't all it's cracked up to be.
… So Let's All Be Scientists!
If Charles Darwin could do his bit for science from the comfort of his own home, perhaps we can too.