What if someone wrote a book that presented math and physics concepts in a fun way, with meticulous explanations, humor, and amazed wonder? Speculation is not required. The feat has been accomplished. What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, by Randall Munroe, takes a thoughtful, methodical approach to conjuring answers to some bizarre questions. Read our book review.

After the Sun and Moon, the brightest object that makes a regular appearance in our skies is the planet Venus. It isn't always visible, but this month (March 2015) you can locate it in the western sky after sunset.

Pier Press is located in southern Virginia, and the spring leaves have not yet unfurled. When they do, their green chlorophyll will begin a remarkable process known as photosynthesis, the process by which plants use sunlight to create chemical energy.