Summer reading for scientists

Heading for the beach? Or stuck in the lab? We round up the science-related books to pack this summer.

Seeing Further: The Story of Science and the Royal Society, edited by Bill Bryson, Harper Press

Published to celebrate the 350th birthday of the Royal Society, this book brings together 21 essays by leading scientists and writers, including Richard Dawkins, Steve Jones and Simon Schaffer.

The Eerie Silence: Are We Alone in the Universe?, by Paul Davies, Allen Lane

Another anniversary celebration, this time the 50th birthday of Seti (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence).
 

 

You Are Here: A Portable History of the Universe, by Christopher Potter, Hutchinson

A journey from the beginning of the universe to the present day, covering, among other things, evolutionary theory, antimatter and the philosophy of science.
 

 

The Flavour Thesaurus, by Niki Segnit, Bloomsbury

A guide to combining flavours that touches on the chemical compounds and structures that create the tastes we know.
 

 

30-Second Theories, edited by Paul Parsons, Icon Books

Aiming to cover 'The 50 Most Thought-Provoking Theories in Science', this well-designed book ranges from Quantum Mechanics, Chaos Theory and Dark Matter. One for the more time-pressed among you.