A collection of the year's best science and nature writings, selected by New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean. "This is one of the most exciting times in the history of science," Sam Kean proclaims in his introduction to The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2018. "Things aren't perfect by any means. But there are more scientists making more discoveries in more places about more things than ever before." The twenty-six pieces assembled here chart the full spectrum of those discoveries. From the outer reaches of space, to the mysteries of the human mind, to the changing culture in labs and universities across the nation, we see time and again the sometimes rocky, sometimes revelatory road to understanding, and along the way catch a glimpse of all that's left to learn. The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2018 includes contributions by Ross Andersen * Jacqueline Detwiler * Sophie Brickman * John Lanchester * Siddharta Mukherjee * Kim Todd * Douglas Fox * J. B. MacKinnon * Barack Obama * David Roberts * Ceridwen Dovey * Caitlin Kuehn * Paul Kvinta * Joshua Rothman * Christopher Solomon * Kayla Webley Adler * Rachel Leven * Rebecca Boyle * Kenneth Brower * Susannah Felts * Steven Johnson * Elena Passarello * Ed Yong * Barbara Bradley Hagerty * Eva Holland * Kathryn Schulz