How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite

In this rollicking collection, Balakrishnan and Wasowski—founders of the Nerd Nite series, in which experts present short, accessible science talks—bring together brief essays by scholars and others on such topics as “sex change and gender roles in anemonefishes,” microbes’ role in creating human body odor, and the feasibility of sci-fi artificial gravity systems. Numerous entries focus on animals, including scientist Laura Chaibongsai’s study of the U.S. Navy’s successful efforts to train “dolphins to detect underwater mines” and primatologist Natalia Reagan’s survey of homosexual behavior among nonhuman primates. The selections are uniformly irreverent—in “To Boldly Go,” journalist Brendan Byrne discusses how astronauts pee and poop during space missions—while dispensing illuminating trivia, as when neuroscientist Paula Croxson explains that the hair-of-the-dog approach to treating hangovers actually does work because the methanol that builds up in the body during an alcohol binge can be partially neutralized afterward with ethanol from alcoholic drinks. The broad range of topics ensures most readers will find something of interest, and the brisk pace will keep them glued to their seats. Playful yet enlightening, this entertains. Illus. Agent: Danielle Svetcov, Levine Greenberg Rostan. (Feb.)