#SteveReviews: Monsters of God
If you know much about the reptile pet trade, you will be aware that it has an illegal and upsetting dark side. Eric Goode’s Monsters of God is an uncomfortable documentary series because its subject is simultaneously fascinating, disturbing and…
#StevesLibrary: Top 10 Books on Genetics and Genomics
Genetics and genomics have changed dramatically from the days when genes were viewed largely as fixed units of inheritance that determined particular characteristics. The discovery of DNA, the structure of the genome and the completion of the Human Genome Project…
#MuseumMonday: Timeline of exhibitions at the British Library
The British Library is perhaps best known as one of the world’s great repositories of books, manuscripts and historical documents, but its collections also provide a remarkable window into the natural world and our understanding of it. Across its history,…
#StevesLibrary: The Lives of Snakes – A Natural History of the World’s Snakes
Who is ready for another book review? The Lives of Snakes: A Natural History of the World’s Snakes by Chris Mattison is an ambitious and beautifully presented exploration of one of the most misunderstood groups of animals on Earth. Written…
#SciFri: When frogs were used as pregnancy tests
Long before lateral flow pregnancy tests became a routine purchase in pharmacies or supermarkets, confirming a pregnancy was a slow, uncertain, and often expensive process. During the early twentieth century, physicians relied on indirect signs and symptoms or laboratory tests…
#StevesReviews: Evolution with Chris Packham
Few concepts have shaped modern biology as profoundly as evolution. It underpins every aspect of ecology, genetics, physiology, behaviour and conservation, yet communicating evolutionary theory to a general audience remains a considerable challenge. Evolutionary processes often occur over immense timescales,…
#StevesLibrary: DK Eyewitness: Amphibian
Thinking about my own personal development, few publishers have shaped children’s non-fiction as profoundly as Dorling Kindersley (DK). For more than three decades, the Eyewitness series has introduced millions of readers to subjects ranging from dinosaurs and space exploration to…
#SciFri: Kew Gardens – A Comprehensive Review and History of Britain’s Botanical Treasure
I have previously written on the wonders of Kew Gardens, but since then I have learnt a lot more about this amazing attraction, so I thought I’d try to do it justice this time. In my mind, there are few…
#SciFri: Homo sapiens – Classifying the Human Animal
The classification of the human species has occupied philosophers, physicians, theologians, and naturalists for thousands of years. Long before the emergence of modern biology, human beings sought to understand what humanity was, how humans differed from animals, and whether differences…
#SteveReviews: Secret Garden
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that last week was Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, I could therefore think of no better way to celebrate than to watch Secret Garden. In an age dominated by frantic streaming…
