Big Bang

From the moment humans could draw, we’ve turned to our own bodies for inspiration. Painted on cave walls or splayed open in Renaissance anatomical studies, the human body has always been a subject of awe, fear, reverence, and inquiry. What changes across time is how we look at it. Recent books by Ruben Verwaal and Babette Van Rafelghem continue this long lineage in surprising, creative formats, each reframing the body not only as a biological entity, but as a cultural canvas.

Stephen Fry’s Greek mythology series (Mythos, Heroes, Troy, and Odyssey) are a lively retelling of some of the oldest stories ever told in a tone that makes them feel both accessible and meaningful to a modern reader without flattening their depth.

In an age where science talk competes more and more with misinformation for public trust, the ethical compass guiding science communication has never been more critical. Insights from three influential books—Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell, Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari, and Influence by Robert Cialdini—can shed some light on how we communicate science, and more importantly, how we ought to or ought not to.

Brine oscillates between fiction and non-fiction. An atypical novel, an atypical way of communicating science

In March 2020, the world awoke to a new reality defined by lockdowns, overwhelmed hospitals, and the omnipresence of COVID-19. As I immersed