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Art Cure

Daisy Fancourt Cornerstone (2026)

This illuminating book argues that art, “alongside diet, sleep, exercise and nature, is the forgotten fifth pillar of health”. It draws on Daisy Fancourt’s unique background as a pianist for a classical radio station before going on to run the performing-arts programme at a hospital, where she saw at first hand how creative activities support patients’ recovery. Those experiences led to a PhD in psychoneuroimmunology, with her research now providing evidence that engaging in the arts can support healthy functioning of key bodily systems.

Naming Nature

T. A. Barron Riverside (2026)

Writer and conservationist Thomas Barron cautions that his book “isn’t a scientific text” but a celebration of the “wondrous array of life” on Earth. Delightfully written and featuring exquisite illustrations by historic naturalists, it is a deep dive into the living world’s cultural and linguistic histories. For example, the French word for butterfly, papillon, traces back to ancient Indo-European roots meaning “to tremble or shake”, whereas the Russian equivalent, babochka, evolved from a folkloric term for an old witch.

Open Space

David Ariosto Knopf (2026)

Space, according to journalist and industry analyst David Ariosto, “has never before held so much potential, demanded so much stewardship, or risked so much in its abandonment”. His book surveys every facet, asking who will fund humanity’s next era of exploration, how far will future missions reach and which nations will shape this trajectory. Will progress be driven by corporate entities such as SpaceX, by state-controlled programmes as in China and Russia or by an alternative model that is more open and cooperative?

Ecological Explosions

Daniel Simberloff Chicago Univ. Press (2026)

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-01160-0

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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