Episode Summary
Executive Summary: Science Friday’s year-end episode highlights the best science books of 2019 and then shifts to science-themed board games. Guests Deborah Blum and Valerie Thompson recommend standout books on Chernobyl, superheavy elements, climate change, dementia, genetics, and drug safety, while listeners add their own favorites. The second half explores how games like Wingspan, Evolution, Pandemic, and Terraforming Mars can make science fun and educational.
Main Topics: Best science books of 2019 (Priority: 5/5): Ira Flatow, Deborah Blum, Valerie Thompson, and listeners discuss favorite science books from the year, emphasizing narratives that blend science with history, ethics, and human stories. History of science and disaster (Priority: 5/5): Books such as Midnight in Chernobyl and The Bastard Brigade are praised for turning scientific history into gripping narratives about nuclear research, wartime espionage, and catastrophe. Climate change and environmental collapse (Priority: 4/5): Several picks focus on climate impacts and ecological loss, including Ice at the End of the World and Lost Feast, linking scientific evidence to global change and extinction. Science, medicine, and ethics (Priority: 5/5): Selections like Deep Medicine, Fables and Futures, Bottle of Lies, and Dementia Reimagined address AI in healthcare, genetic screening, pharmaceutical corruption, and end-of-life care. Science in language and popular culture (Priority: 3/5): A segment on Isaac Asimov’s Words of Science explores how scientific terminology carries history and wonder, reinforcing science literacy through etymology. Science board games as learning tools (Priority: 4/5): The second half of the show examines board games that incorporate scientific concepts, with discussion of Wingspan, Evolution, Pandemic, Terraforming Mars, and educational game design.
Key Arguments: Good science books work best when they tell a compelling human story while making complex science accessible. History-of-science books remain popular because they show how present-day scientific problems developed over time. Climate change and extinction are major recurring themes in 2019 science publishing, reflecting public concern and scientific urgency. Books about medicine and biotechnology are increasingly examining the ethical consequences of innovation, not just the technologies themselves. Science board games are effective when the mechanics themselves teach scientific concepts rather than merely decorating a standard game with science themes. Educational and entertaining games can help players understand ecology, evolution, public health, and climate systems through play.
Data Points: Science books received per month at Science Friday: over 100 - Ira Flatow says the show receives dozens to over 100 books each month. Atomic number threshold for superheavy elements: greater than 103 - Valerie Thompson explains that superheavy elements discussed in Super Heavy are elements with atomic numbers above 103. Estimated decay time of superheavy elements: a few seconds or maybe a couple hours - Valerie describes how long these lab-created elements last before decaying. Climate-related species extinction rate in human food system: roughly 5 times as high as the background rate - From Lost Feast, Valerie notes that species humans eat have gone extinct much faster than baseline extinction rates. Passenger pigeon population trend: from most abundant bird in North America to extinct within 100 years - Example used in Lost Feast to illustrate extinction driven by habitat loss and consumption. Super-heavy element group size mentioned: atomic numbers greater than 103 - The book Super Heavy focuses on this specific set of elements. Chernobyl book detail: Department of Medium Machine Building - Deborah Blum cites this Soviet agency name as an unforgettable historical detail from Midnight in Chernobyl. Isaac Asimov book entry count: 250 words and phrases - Johanna Mayer’s review of Words of Science says the book covers 250 science terms. Isaac Asimov year of birth anniversary: 100th birthday - Ira notes that next month would have been Asimov’s 100th birthday. Science fiction author anniversary: 100th birthday - Valerie notes that 2020 would also mark Ray Bradbury’s 100th birthday.
Pivotal Quotes: "Science is a human enterprise, and we're looking at something where people are making decisions, sometimes in thoughtful ways, sometimes, you know, in ways that are driven by perhaps less noble ideas." — Deborah Blum: Explaining what makes a strong science book: human agency and ethical complexity. "It can just be tough to see that if you don't speak Latin or Greek or Arabic." — Johanna Mayer: From the Words of Science segment, describing why scientific vocabulary can feel intimidating. "Good science books, to me, at some level, bring the humanity of science to life." — Deborah Blum: Deborah summarizes her criteria for memorable science books.
Implications: Listeners are encouraged to read science books and play science games as ways to better understand complex issues like climate, medicine, genetics, and public health. The episode suggests science communication works best when it is narrative-driven, ethical, and interactive.