Science reads for the summer of ’17

From the far-off surface of Mars to the much closer—but no less mysterious—human brain (the frontier between your ears), this year's picks invite readers to jump into the scientific process feet first. Try your hand at home brewing with an archaeologist's guide to recreating ancient alcohols. Ride the CRISPR wave with an insider's overview of gene editing. Take your campfire stories to the next level with a collection of strange tales from nuclear history or a dramatic retelling of Earth's real-life apocalypses. What insect threw the federal government into chaos in 1793? How did religion lead early researchers to a "Russian nesting doll" theory of reproduction? Which well-known chemist once paid a quarter of a million dollars for a portrait with his chem­istry equipment? Find out in the reviews that follow.