Historian Geertje Dekkers' biography, "Myriad, Microscopic and Marvellous," published by Reaktion in 2025, details the life and discoveries of microbiologist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. The book recounts van Leeuwenhoek's 1674 observation of single-celled organisms, bacteria and protozoa, in lake water, marking a pivotal moment in the field of microbiology. Dekkers highlights van Leeuwenhoek's accurate descriptions of red blood cells, capillaries, striated muscle fibres, spermatozoa, and the crystalline lens of the eye.

Van Leeuwenhoek's contributions were highly valued by the scientific community. Upon his death in 1723, the UK Royal Society, of which he was a fellow, acknowledged the loss of its "most valuable correspondent," according to Dekkers' account. His meticulous observations, made possible by his handcrafted microscopes, opened a new window into the microscopic world, laying the groundwork for future advancements in biology and medicine.

In a separate work, anthropologists Melissa Leach and James Fairhead explore the intersection of human culture and the natural world in their book "Naturekind," published by Princeton University Press in 2025. The authors delve into biosemiotics, linking biological findings to the study of meaning in sign systems, examining how humans interact with various life forms, including chickens, horses, bees, bats, and plants.

Leach and Fairhead consider the communities and cultures through which humans are interconnected with wider life, examining forests, seas, soils, and cities, which contain both living and non-living entities. Their work emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of understanding the complex relationships between humans and the environment. "Naturekind" encourages a deeper understanding of the semiotics of nature, prompting readers to reconsider their relationship with the world around them.