Transient and Strange: Notes on the Science of Life

Nell Greenfieldboyce is a science reporter who has reported from inside a space shuttle, the bottom of a coal mine, and the control room of a particle collider. Her debut book, "Transient and Strange," delivers a collection of powerful, emotionally raw, and unforgettable personal essays that probe the places where science touches our lives most intimately. She grapples with the dualities of life, looking for a connection to the universe by searching for the otherworldly glint of a micrometeorite in the dust, consulting meteorologists and storm chasers on the power of tornadoes, and processing her adolescent oblivion through the discovery of black holes. The book is a beautiful blend of explanatory science, original reporting, and personal experience, offering resonant insights into both the world around us and the worlds within us.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2024
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Nell Greenfieldboyce, a renowned science reporter, has embarked on an extraordinary journey through the realms of science, exploring the depths of space shuttles, the treacherous depths of coal mines, and the enigmatic control rooms of particle colliders. Her reporting has taken her to the farthest corners of the universe, delving into the mysteries of dinosaur eggs, the enigmatic existence of ice worms thriving on mountaintop glaciers, and the tantalizing signs of life on Venus. In her debut book, Greenfieldboyce unveils a captivating collection of personal essays that delve into the profound intersections between science and human life.

Through her poignant and introspective writing, Greenfieldboyce skillfully weaves her own experiences of motherhood and marriage with an unwavering reverence for the natural world. She grapples with the profound dualities that shape our existence, delving into the realms of birth, death, constancy, impermanence, memory, doubt, love, and aging. With an unwavering curiosity, she embarks on a quest to find a connection to the vast universe, seeking solace in the otherworldly glint of a micrometeorite in the dust, delving into the enigmatic power of tornadoes to calm her children's fears, and processing her adolescent oblivion through the startling discovery of black holes.

Inspired by Walt Whitman's haunting invocation to the "transient and strange," Greenfieldboyce remains attuned to the wildest workings of our world. She reflects on the awe-inspiring leap of the humble flea and the profound echoing truth of a foetal heartbeat, capturing the essence of the ordinary and revealing resonant insights into both the external world and the inner realms of our existence.

Transient and Strange is a remarkable blend of explanatory science, original reporting, and personal experience. It weaves together a tapestry of insights that evoke a deep sense of empathy and understanding. This book offers a poignant exploration of the human condition, providing readers with a profound appreciation for the complexities and wonders of our world.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 216 x 147 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780393882346