On this week’s show: Science’s Breakthrough of the Year and runners-up, plus the top books in 2022

You might not be surprised by this year’s breakthrough, but hopefully you won’t guess all our runners-up. Producer Meagan Cantwell is joined by Greg Miller, who edited the section this year. The two discuss the big winner and more.

In our second segment, host Sarah Crespi is joined by Science Books Editor Valerie Thompson to chat about the best books in science from this year, and one movie.

Books mentioned in this segment:

Otherlands Review | Buy

How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures Review | Buy

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us Buy

A House Between Earth and the Moon Review | Buy

Is Science Enough? Forty Critical Questions About Climate Justice Review | Buy

What Climate Justice Means and Why We Should Care Review | Buy

Stolen Science: Thirteen Untold Stories of Scientists and Inventors Almost Written out of History Review | Buy

The Science Spell Book: Magical Experiments for Kids Review | Buy

Fire of Love (Film) Trailer

The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science (2023) Buy

Don’t miss this year’s podcast series on books in food, science, and agriculture, hosted by Angela Saini.

Take our audience survey at: https://www.science.org/podcasts

This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy.

[Image: NASA; ESA; CSA; STScI; Joseph DePasquale, Alyssa Pagan,

and Anton M. Koekemoer/STScI Music: Jeffrey Cook]

[alt: the birth of a star with podcast symbol overlay]

Authors: Sarah Crespi; Meagan Cantwell; Greg Miller; Valerie Thompson

Episode page: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg2633 

About the Science Podcast: https://www.science.org/content/page/about-science-podcast