The best new popular science books of 2026, including new books by Naomi Klein, Rebecca Solnit and Xand Van Tulleken

As we look ahead to the new year, there is a wealth of exciting science books set to be released in the coming months. From space exploration to health and wellness, from mathematics to technology and AI, there is something for every curious mind. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most anticipated science books of 2026.

Space

Starting with a broad perspective, environmental historian Dagomar Degroot’s Ripples on the Cosmic Ocean delves into how the solar system has influenced human history. From Martian dust storms to comet impacts, Degroot explores our relationship with the cosmos.

Astrophysicist Emma Chapman’s Radio Universe takes readers on a journey through the Milky Way using radio waves to uncover the mysteries of the universe.

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein’s The Edge of Space-Time combines poetry and culture to explain the complex world of theoretical physics and the quantum nature of space-time.

Health

In the realm of health and wellness, David Cox’s The Age Code explores nutrition science and its impact on biological aging. Charles Knowles’ Why We Drink Too Much delves into the reasons behind excessive drinking, while Bill Gifford’s Hotwired looks at the benefits of heat on our health.

Investigative writers like Xand van Tulleken, Deborah Cohen, Aimee Donnellan, and Alev Scott offer insights into the world of wellness, internet medicine, pharmaceuticals, and fertility treatments.

Maths

Mathematicians Richard Elwes and Ian Stewart explore the world of numbers in Huge Numbers and Reaching for the Extreme, respectively, delving into the vast and intricate realm of mathematics.

Technology and AI

Gaurav Suri and Jay McClelland’s The Emergent Mind explores the concept of emergence in complex systems like the human brain and artificial intelligence. Tom Griffiths’ The Laws of Thought delves into the underlying principles of AI and human cognition.

Books like James Muldoon’s Love Machines and Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor’s End Times Fascism and the Fight for the Living World offer insights into the intersection of technology, relationships, and social issues.

Environment

Authors like Rebecca Solnit, Fred Pearce, Dave Goulson, and Jeevan Vasagar provide hope and solutions for environmental challenges in books like The Beginning Comes After the End and The Surge.

Exploring the wonders of nature, authors like Louise K. Blight, Ruth Searle, and Jo Wimpenny celebrate the beauty and importance of Earth’s ecosystems in books like Where the Earth Meets the Sky and The Intertidal Zone.

Psychology

From exploring the impact of art on our well-being in Daisy Fancourt’s Art Cure to understanding the science of attraction in Paul Eastwick’s Bonded by Evolution, psychologists are delving into the complexities of the human mind.

Authors like Hannah Critchlow, Paul Goldsmith, and Leanne ten Brinke offer insights into resilience, brain evolution, and dealing with toxic personalities in books like The 21st Century Brain and Poisonous People.

Conclusion

With a diverse array of topics ranging from space exploration to psychology, the science books of 2026 promise to educate, inspire, and challenge readers to think differently about the world around them. It’s time to clear out our bookshelves and make room for these upcoming treasures!