Cheese puffs. Coffee. Sunscreen. Vapes. George Zaidan reveals what will kill you, what won’t, and why—explained with high-octane hilarity, hysterical hijinks, and other things that don’t begin with the letter H. Ingredients offers the perspective of a chemist on the stuff we eat, drink, inhale, and smear on ourselves. Apart ... more >
Who wore the first pants? Who painted the first masterpiece? Who first rode the horse? Who invented soap? This madcap adventure across ancient history uses everything from modern genetics to archaeology to uncover the geniuses behind these and other world-changing innovations. Who invented the wheel? Who told the first joke? ... more >
The Right Sort of Man: A Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery by Allison Montclair In a London slowly recovering from World War II, two very different women join forces to launch a business venture in the heart of Mayfair—The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Miss Iris Sparks, quick-witted and impulsive, and Mrs. ... more >
Is the five-second rule legitimate? Are electric hand dryers really bacteria blowers? Am I spraying germs everywhere when I blow on my birthday cake? How gross is backwash? When it comes to food safety and germs, there are as many common questions as there are misconceptions. And yet there has ... more >
Underlying by Janelle Harris I know. I KNOW. Anyone who reads my reviews is probably heartily sick of me bitching about Amazon First Reads, especially all the mediocre suspense I find there. Skip this if you want to avoid my whining (which would be understandable). The book is narrated by ... more >
Is the distinction between “real” and “fake” as clear-cut as we think? Does an authentic Andy Warhol painting need to be painted by Andy Warhol? Should we be outraged that some of those famous scenes in Blue Planet were filmed in a lab? Who are the scientists putting ever-more improbable ... more >