In this episode of Book Science, I'm joined by physicist, oceanographer, BBC presenter, and author Dr. Helen Czerski, a world-class communicator of science and an expert on all things ocean and bubble.

We talk about her most recent book, Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World — a sweeping, human-centered tour through the ocean’s role as a planetary engine. We discuss how her background in physics informs her writing, her playful and cinematic style, the challenges of scientific storytelling, and why books still matter.

We also explore:

• The hidden structure behind ocean storytelling
• Why physics is for everyone
• The importance of curiosity and perspective
• Her work with the Cosmic Shambles Network
• Featuring Indigenous voices in ocean science
• The power of books as immersive tools for understanding

Show Notes & Bonus Content:
Show Notes, Full episode transcript, extended reading list and more at TrippCollins.com

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Explore Helen’s work at HelenCzerski.net
Learn more about Rare Earth on BBC Radio 4

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What if memory wasn’t just a skill—but a superpower embedded in our genes?

In this episode, I talk with science writer and memory expert Lynne Kelly about her remarkable new book, The Knowledge Gene. We explore the evolution of human creativity, the deep science of memory, and how ancient oral cultures used storytelling, song, and ceremony as sophisticated memory systems—long before the invention of writing.

We discuss the genetic clues behind memory and neurodivergence, the science of mnemonic techniques like memory palaces, and how understanding these systems can reshape how we think about education, knowledge, and even what it means to be human.

Plus: Stonehenge, songlines, memory championships, and a case for putting music and art back at the center of learning.

This is a wide-ranging and mind-expanding conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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In this episode of Book Science, I dive into Firmament: The Hidden Science of Weather, Climate Change, and the Air That Surrounds Us by Simon Clark. It’s a beautifully written, surprisingly compact book that unpacks the atmosphere we live in—something so ever-present and invisible that we often forget it exists at all. Clark brings both expertise and charisma to the subject: he’s a UK-based science communicator with a PhD in atmospheric physics and a popular YouTube channel. His book explores foundational concepts in atmospheric science, from Boyle’s Law to global wind patterns, and weaves in the long arc of scientific discovery—from ancient meteo-astronomers to modern climatologists. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just explain the science but tells the story of how we came to understand it, bringing in the people, experiments, and moments of insight that shaped our knowledge of the air.

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