New books & media

Beautiful Experiments: An Illustrated History of Experimental Science, Philip Ball, U. Chicago Press, 2023, $35.00

Although experimentation is arguably the backbone of modern science, historians of science have often tended to focus their studies on theoretical developments. The science writer Philip Ball aims to rectify that disparity in his new book Beautiful Experiments, which outlines 60 investigations carried out from antiquity to the present day. Ball groups the experiments into six chapters, each of which focuses on themes, including the behavior of organisms, the nature of light, and the nature of life. He complements those efforts with five meditative interludes that delve into philosophical or aesthetic topics relating to experimentation, such as how to define an experiment, why thought experiments are useful, and what scientists mean when they say an experiment is beautiful. The richly illustrated book is a treat for the eyes. —rd

The Launch Party, Lauren Forry, Zaffre, 2023, $6.99 (ebook)

In this sci-fi twist on the classic locked-room mystery, 10 people have won the chance to spend two weeks in the first hotel on the Moon. The first hint of trouble comes almost immediately upon arrival, when they discover that they are alone in the hotel—there’s no clerk at the front desk nor bellhops in the lobby, and the spaceship that brought them there has departed. Because a scrumptious meal has been laid out on the buffet and the bar is fully stocked, the guests assume it’s a publicity stunt and that they are to proceed as normal—until one of them is found murdered. Fortunately, Detective Penelope Strand of Scotland Yard’s murder squad is among the guests, and she initiates an investigation while they await a rescue party from Earth. —cc

The Little Book of Exoplanets, Joshua Winn, Princeton U. Press, 2023, $22.95

Since the 1990s, thousands of exoplanets have been detected. They run the gamut from Earthlike planets to exotic worlds far different from any in our solar system. In The Little Book of Exoplanets, astrophysicist Joshua Winn discusses what has been learned about exoplanets so far and the techniques used to make those discoveries, as well as current theories concerning planet formation, examples of unusual exoplanet systems, and predictions about what new technologies and spacecraft may discover. Aimed at the nonspecialist, the book provides a brief overview of the field while keeping mathematical equations and technical language to a minimum. —cc

Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks—A Cool History of a Hot Commodity, Amy Brady, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2023, $29.00

Until about 150 years ago, ice was generally available only to those who lived in cold climates. In her new book, journalist and historian Amy Brady discusses the meteoric rise of the ice industry in the US, due in part to innovations in transportation and manufacturing but mostly to the efforts of ambitious entrepreneurs whose extensive marketing efforts spurred consumer demand. Brady discusses the harvesting of ice from lakes and rivers; ice’s importance in food and drink, medicine, and sports; and some of the surprising ways it has impacted American culture, including the shortening of women’s skirts and the creation of such business chains as 7-Eleven. —cc

The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean, Susan Casey, Doubleday, 2023, $32.00

In The Underworld, journalist Susan Casey—not only a writer but also a competitive swimmer and scuba diver—takes the reader to the deepest parts of Earth’s ocean. Having traveled all over the world and joined crews on multiple deep-sea missions, Casey vividly depicts the thrills and dangers of voyaging into the ocean’s abyss and profiles some of the intrepid explorers who have participated in such ventures. Through her firsthand accounts and engaging prose, Casey draws the reader into a world of exploration as magical and awe-inspiring as that of the NASA astronauts in the early days of the space program. —cc