The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2012

Description

Presents fictional and non-fictional stories written by American authors that discuss topics in science and nature. pt. 1. Bacteria/microorganisms: The teeming metropolis of you / Brendan Buhler. Our body the ecosystem / Virginia Hughes. The peanut puzzle / Jerome Groopman -- pt. 2. Animals: The long, curious, extravagant evolution of feathers / Carl Zimmer. How to hatch a dinosaur / Thomas Hayden. Faster, higher, squeakier / Michael Behar. The wipeout gene / Bijal P. Trivedi. Deep intellect / Sy Montgomery. Ants & the art of war / Mark W. Moffett -- pt. 3. Humans (the good): The scent of your thoughts / Deborah Blum. Sleeping with the enemy / Elizabeth Kolbert. The touchy-feely (but totally scientific!) methods of Wallace J. Nichols / Michael Roberts -- pt. 4. Humans (the bad): The feedback loop / Thomas Goetz. What you don't know can kill you / Jason Daley. Beautiful brains / David Dobbs. The brain on trial / David Eagleman -- pt. 5. Society and environment: Crush point / John Seabrook. Ill wind / David Kirby. The city solution / Robert Kunzig -- pt. 6. Technology: Test-tube burgers / Michael Specter. Mad science / Mark McClusky. Dream machine / Rivka Galchen. The crypto-currency / Joshua Davis -- Mind vs. machine / Brian Christian.