In this excerpt from "Despite it All," author Fred Pearce explores the ways plants are adapting and evolving in the face of climate change — and how we need to recognize this reality and foster its potential boost to biodiversity, rather than holding steadfast to our notions of what types of nature should and shouldn't be allowed to thrive.

In this excerpt from "Predicted: How AI Is Restructuring Social Life," author Mona Sloane examines how artificial intelligence is reconfiguring our understanding of the world and how we imagine the future.

In his new book, "Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations," science writer Sam Kean explains the odd and intriguing world of experimental archaeologists.

Animal trials took place across Europe from the Late Middle Ages until the end of the 18th century. In this excerpt from "Cats: A History", Rod Phillips explores this strange practice, and looks why cats appear to have been largely law-abiding.

In the book "Bitter Honey," writer and researcher Jennie Durant explores how industrial agriculture is destroying bees — and what can be done to stop them.

In the book "The Echoing Universe: How Radio Astronomy Helps Us See the Invisible Cosmos," astrophysicist Emma Chapman describes the hidden corners of space that only radio waves can reveal — and makes the case for contacting aliens.

In this excerpt from "What Science Says About Astrology," author Carlos Orsi examines a 2007 study of 20 million people that showed star signs have no influence on romantic relationships.

In this excerpt from "The Story of Birds", author Steve Brusatte explores the moment where paleontologists realized they had critical evidence to show birds came from dinosaurs — a fluffy fossil from China.

A future AI would have no need to rid the world of humanity because we're incredibly useful. But if it did want to shrug us off, this is how it would likely play out.