GoKawiilNature journal rounds up new science books on plants, smell and time
A books-in-brief feature covers four new titles: Margaret Willes's 'Nature's Apothecary' on 100 medicinal plants illustrated from a 1597 herbal; William Tullett's 'Sniff', a history of smell from ancient religion to industrial-era cities; Jim Al-Khalili's 'On Time', which argues time's arrow is physically real; and Stuart Firestein's 'It Could Be Otherwise'.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
These reviews signal publishing interest in accessible science and history writing that bridges specialist research and general readers. Al-Khalili's book in particular stakes out a position in an ongoing physics debate about whether time's directionality is fundamental or illusory, a question with implications for how physicists reconcile quantum mechanics and relativity.
- Four forthcoming 2026 science and history books are summarized together.
- Jim Al-Khalili's 'On Time' argues against Einstein's view that time's passage is illusory.
- The roundup spans botany, sensory history, and theoretical physics.
Bodleian Library's The Herball reprint — If you're fascinated by the medicinal plant illustrations described in Nature's Apothecary, John Gerard's classic Herball is the original source and a gorgeous piece of botanical history to own. It's a wonderful companion for anyone curious about the roots of herbal medicine and antique plant illustration.
See Bodleian Library's The Herball reprint on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: nature.com — Robinson, 2026-11-06
Published there as: “Medicinal plants, lessons from mushrooms and the power of smell: Books in brief”
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