Science & engineering

Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders

Name: Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders
Author: Lorna J. Gibson

By Lorna J. Gibson, professor post-tenure in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering

MIT Press · 2026

A renowned engineer and lifelong birder, Gibson explores the hidden microscopic structures and engineering principles that keep birds aloft and alive, how an egg forms, how a bird generates lift, how woodpeckers safely drill their holes, and much more. She also considers the longer view of birds in their habitats and natural history. Her up-close look at avian mysteries provides a perspective like no other, for the expert ornithologist and curious observer alike.

View at MIT Press →

From Summer 2026 recommended reading from MIT (MIT News).