Reviews for The Science of Shakespeare: A New Look at the Playwright’s Universe

A "lucid history of early Renaissance science" — The National Post

"...a fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of the astronomical knowledge of the era" — The Chronicle-Herald

"Falk takes the reader on an eventful tour through science in the early modern era...It’s an enjoyable read, and will appeal to non-specialists, but nonetheless is based on a comprehensive engagement with the pertinent academic scholarship. The work is well-informed, enthusiastic, and recommended to anyone seeking a new take on the oft-studied Bard." — Chemistry World

Latest News

The music moves us -- but how?

Posted on Friday, August 3, 2018

We hear music, and our bodies respond -- but how, and why? I spoke with musician and psychologist Daniel Levitin, for Knowable magazine.

Carlo Rovelli on the nature of time

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2018

A leading physicist ponders the enigmatic fourth dimension: I spoke with Carlo Rovelli about the nature of time, for NBCnews.com.

Enrico Fermi and the chain reaction that changed everything

Posted on Friday, July 6, 2018

Enrico Fermi lived and breathed physics. My review of David Schwartz's new biography of Fermi, "The Last Man Who Knew Everything," for Undark magzine.

Has theoretical physics gone off the rails?

Posted on Saturday, June 2, 2018

Theoretical physics has made little progress in the last 30 years, some scientists argue -- at least, compared to the great breakthroughs of the 20th century. My report for NBCnews.com.

Episode 17 of BookLab is now out!

Posted on Monday, May 28, 2018

Episode 17 of BookLab is now out -- featuring books by Antonio Damasio, David Schwartz, and Till Roenneberg:

Star Wars' Newtonian Universe

Posted on Friday, May 4, 2018

As I argue in a new blog post, the Star Wars universe owes more to Newton than to Einstein.

What is relativity? Einstein's mind-bending theory explained

Posted on Friday, April 13, 2018

Everyone has heard of relativity, but how many of us can explain it to a friend? Here's a quick beginner's guide that I wrote for NBCnews.com.

Ten books to read if "A Brief History of Time" was too brief for you

Posted on Friday, April 6, 2018

Following the death of Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time is once again on the bestseller lists. But what if you want more? Amanda Gefter (my co-host for the BookLab podcast) and I suggest these additional books about space and time. (From Undark magazine.)

Episode 16 of BookLab is now out!

Posted on Sunday, April 1, 2018

In a special episode of BookLab, Amanda Gefter and I look back at Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, 30 years after its publication. (Available on iTunes or on Soundcloud.)

Stephen Hawking: remembering a physics giant

Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2018

The world has lost a great mind with the death of physicist Stephen Hawking. His ideas were famously inpenetrable, at least for the non-specialist -- but his goal, in fact, was simple. My feature for Undark.

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