Category：Popular Science

The Chronicles of Insects 读虫记

By CHEN Rui

● A Scientist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences presents to you a different insect story.

This popular science book explores insects’ unique roles in human history, organizing the human-insect relationship into six stages: observation, summary, application, description, imitation, and learning. This sequence reflects how individuals typically engage with insects, from basic behavior observations to uncovering creative technological inspirations. The author connects insect habits to their cultural relevance through engaging language. For example, it reinterprets the significance of seemingly ordinary insects, like dung beetles worshiped as sun gods in ancient Egypt. The book includes detailed insect illustrations, enhancing readers’ comprehension of their cultural and technological importance.

Author
Chen Rui, a young biologist with a Ph.D. in Zoology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a prominent science educator and popular science writer. He is the Director of the Popular Science Department at the China Scientific Exploration Association and leads the China Geological Scientist Team. Chen has published many papers in international SCI-indexed journals, discovering over a hundred new species, both existing and extinct. As a leading natural science communicator and education specialist, he actively promotes the natural sciences. Chen has led numerous scientific expeditions, exploring diverse regions like the Amazon rainforest, East African savannah,Madagascar, and beyond, gaining hands-on experience in challenging conditions and documenting lesser-known aspects of the world.