What’s most compelling about a scientific story is the way itchallenges us to think about the concepts we take for granted, writes guest editor Carl Zimmer in his introduction. The essays in this yearsBest American Science and Nature Writingprobe at the ordinary and urge us to think more deeply about our place in the world around us. From a hopeful portrait of a future for people with Alzheimers disease, to a fascinating exploration of the rise of nearsightedness in children, to the heroic story of a herd of cows that evaded a hurricane, these selections reveal how science and nature shape our everyday lives. With tremendous intelligence, clarity, and insight, this anthology offers an expansive look at where we are and where we are headed.