Thirty-three illuminating essays capture the marvels of science and confront the urgent realities of a changing planet.

A collection of the best science and nature articles written in 2021, selected by guest editor renowned marine biologist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and series editor Jaime Green.

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, renowned marine biologist and co-founder of the All We Can Save climate initiative, compiles the best science and nature writing of the year. The anthology organizes these pieces across five distinct themes, tracing an arc from biological wonders to environmental reckonings.

Contributors investigate surprising natural phenomena, documenting the cardiovascular adaptations of giraffes, the cellular memory of slime molds, and ancient starburst galaxies.

The volume also spotlights forward-looking solutions, examining dam removals on Washington rivers alongside farming projects that pair solar panels with food crops. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

• Evolutionary Biology: Katherine J. Wu traces the multifaceted anatomy of sea cucumbers and flatworms to explore how digestive openings fundamentally altered animal evolution.
• Environmental Science: Kendra Pierre-Louis investigates how sea level rise forces up coastal groundwater, silently corroding buried pipes and swamping municipal infrastructure long before ocean waves reach the shore.
• Climate Change: Sarah Kaplan reports on the quest to domesticate Kernza, a perennial wheatgrass whose deep root systems anchor topsoil, store carbon, and reshape industrial agriculture.
• Wildlife Conservation: Sonia Shah chronicles the ICARUS initiative, an ambitious project using space-station receivers and solar-powered tags to track the global migrations of birds and mammals in real time.
• Environmental Justice: Rachel Ramirez details the grassroots fight led by faith-based advocates in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley against petrochemical expansions on historic plantation grounds.