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Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science
Gory Details: Adventures from the Dark Side of Science | Erika Engelhaupt
13 posts | 14 read | 31 to read
Using humor and real science in the tradition of Mary Roach, this groovy narrative from the author of National Geographic's popular Gory Details blog illuminates the gross, strange, morbid, and outright absurd realities of our bodies, our earth, and our universe. Filled to the brim with far-out facts, this wacky, funny, and informative narrative takes us on a fascinating journey through the astonishing world of science. With Erika Engelhaupt, founding editor of National Geographic's Gory Details blog as your guide, all your weirdest and wildest fascinations will be illuminated. From the biologist who endured countless honeybee stings to test which spot was the most painful to the dollhouse-sized replicas of crime scenes built to analyze blood splatter to NASA's enduring dilemma--do women need to have their periods in space?--this entertaining book explores oft-ignored but alluring facets of biology, anatomy, space exploration, nature, and more. Featuring top-notch reporting, interviews with leading researchers, and a healthy dose of wit, Gory Details depicts the world's most intriguing real-world applications of science in all their glory--making geekiness cool all over again!
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underground_bks
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Pickpick

Gross, shocking, and full of science, this collection of snack-size essays on macabre subjects is a blast to read! From the studies behind pee in pools to pets eating their owners to psychopaths and plenty more, there‘s something for every curious mind and strong stomach here. One of my favorites is about an heiress who used her fortune to create disturbingly accurate doll house murder scenes to train homicide investigators, still used today!

LiteraryinPA This sounds both disgusting and intriguing! 😋 3mo
underground_bks @LiteraryinPA the ✨perfect✨ nonfiction read for spooky season! The audiobook is excellent. 3mo
23 likes1 stack add2 comments
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thestarlesscasea
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Snagged a surprisingly comfy window seat from which to read about creepy crawlies and other things that may squick many of us out. 🪲 I had skipped parts two and four because reading about bugs right before bed would not do great things for my sleep, but it's early enough and far enough from my bedroom that I'm able to catch up. 🙃

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fandom_hellspawn99
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11 weeks down, and baby finally looks like a real baby! Can't wait to find out the gender. Everyone has been guessing, girl, so far. I'm currently reading the tagged book above. I gotta get the baby interested in science early, right?

julesG Congratulations! 9mo
marleed Congratulations! 9mo
dabbe It looks like s/he is smiling! Congrats! 🤩 9mo
See All 6 Comments
maich Cogratulations💕 9mo
Ddzmini Congratulations 🎈🎉🎊 9mo
CarolynM Congratulations 🎉 9mo
17 likes6 comments
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Soubhiville
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Pickpick

Definitely not for the squeamish! Full of interesting facts about body decomposition, bugs, microbiology, unpleasant smells, and so much more. One of the most memorable chapters for me is about disembodied feet that wash up on the Pacific coast in northern America and Canada. The investigation of where they come from and what was found will stick with me. 👟🥾
Grossest for me? Bugs crawling into orifices and slug eating leading to death 🫣!

lil1inblue I'm too curious about the feet. Stacked. 9mo
Soubhiville @lil1inblue 🤣 you could probably Google, but if you like creepy/gross stuff I would recommend the book for other reasons too. 9mo
See All 15 Comments
Avanders 😟 9mo
AmyG Bugs….NOPE 9mo
lil1inblue @Soubhiville I live near Lake Superior, so I have some theories. 😂 9mo
ShelleyBooksie I am intrigued!! 9mo
DinoMom This sounds like me kind of read! 9mo
TheLudicReader 🤮that‘s a hard pass for me. 😂😂 9mo
Yenya1954 I‘m adding this my TBR list. It sounds as if I need to find out about the 🦶 👣 9mo
Soubhiville @Yenya1954 I was just telling Melody about that story on our walk yesterday. It‘s interesting! I‘m so surprised I don‘t remember hearing about it on the news when it started. 9mo
Yenya1954 Me either…. 9mo
MemoirsForMe 😳 9mo
Hooked_on_books Loved this one! 9mo
82 likes8 stack adds15 comments
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bunny
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Pickpick

Listened to this one on audiobook, which worked really nicely because the chapter length was just about the amount of time I usually was able to spend listening. Covers a fascinating array of topics, ones you don't often hear about because they're "gross" or otherwise unusual.

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Cazxxx
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Can‘t wait to dive into this one, it looks right up my street 💀

37 likes1 stack add
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

From fly poop (it resembles blood spatter) to whether your pet would eat you if you died, to India‘s Pad Man (who invented a machine to cheaply make maxipads), this is a fun book of accessible science that‘s both informative and funny in the tradition of Mary Roach. I LOVED this! 🧬 🧪 🦠💊💩

Soubhiville Yep, I‘ll have to read this now. Sounds like something I‘ll enjoy. 😊 3y
AmyG Nope 😬🤣 3y
shanaqui Hmmm! I'm not entirely sure how I'd get along with this... Love pop sci, but easily grossed out... 🤔 3y
Chelsea.Poole Need! 3y
59 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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RainyDayReading
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Pickpick

1st book down for #20in4 and it‘s a new favorite! Full of mini essays regarding some of society‘s more gross and taboo topics (like eating bugs, autopsies etc.) if you‘re a fan of micro histories, medical history, or stuff that‘s just plain weird, highly recommend. #bookspinbingo #tbrdeckofcards Mood Read @TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick @Andrew65

Clwojick Way to go! 💖 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 3y
38 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TimSpalding
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Definitely my science jam.

Nute Awesome books! 3y
Chelsea.Poole Those look great! 3y
44 likes2 comments
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Chrissyreadit
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Thank you @MatchlessMarie for this #creepychristmas package! I LOVE Bones coffee- and have never had that flavor before!!! The blanket is so pretty and mystical 🤍 and I love the books you chose! 🤶🖤🖤🖤🤶

AmyG Bones is the best! 3y
LeahBergen The tagged book sounds amazing! 3y
MatchlessMarie I‘m so glad you liked it! Hope your Christmas stays creepy!! 👻 3y
teebe I always end up adding so many books to my tbr after this swap 😂 the tagged one sounds fascinating 3y
64 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Hilary427
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Pickpick

Such a cool book…lots of weird, gross, but mostly interesting facts about all things well, weird and gross!
⭐️: 4/5

julesG You had me at "gross" ? 3y
19 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Librarybelle
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Not my usual read, but I was attracted by the cover (it glows in the dark!). Engelhaupt writes on a variety of scientific topics that are gross and gory and bizarre - from bugs and rats to secretions and excretions to sounds that make you ticked. Engelhaupt keeps the chapters lighthearted and entertaining. While I did find myself involuntarily curling my nose and going yuck at times, it‘s very informative.

BarbaraBB Sounds fascinating! 3y
Librarybelle @BarbaraBB It is definitely fascinating! 3y
91 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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Aloisi_tribe
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This book comes out in May and is right up my alley. I can‘t wait!

#chillingphotochallenge #gory #scarathlon @Clwojick