The Huntington and Princeton University Press Publish Five-Volume Work Exploring History of Science Collections

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Published by Princeton University Press in association with The Huntington, Worlds Unfolding: Science on the Page is the first major publication devoted to the Huntington Library’s collections in the history of science, medicine, and technology. 
• The five-volume slipcase set features more than 630 images of items spanning the 10th century to the present, including rare books, manuscripts, maps, scientific illustrations, botanical specimens, photographs, and archival materials. 
• With an introduction by Bill Nye “the Science Guy,” the publication presents science not as a fixed body of knowledge but as an ongoing enterprise: collaborative, contested, imaginative, and alive. 
• The five volumes are organized around five realms of human inquiry—Worlds Above, Worlds Below, Worlds Within, Worlds Beyond, and Worlds Alive—to draw connections across disciplines, cultures, and time. 
• Worlds Unfolding coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Burndy Library’s arrival at The Huntington. The publication will be available Oct. 13, 2026, at the Huntington Store, from Princeton University Press, and through online distributors. 

Published by Princeton University Press in association with The Huntington, Worlds Unfolding: Science on the Page is designed for readers within and beyond the sciences, pairing vivid images with concise texts that explore the history of science through questions, comparisons, and unexpected juxtapositions. Images of medieval maps, botanical specimens, scientific instruments, lightbulbs, anatomical drawings, X-ray photographs, rare books, and archival documents are accompanied by extended captions that show how scientific knowledge has been recorded, shared, and challenged across time and place. The publication will be available Oct. 13, 2026, at the Huntington Store, from Princeton University Press, and through online distributors. 
 
“At The Huntington, we see every day how collections are catalysts for discovery,” said Sandra Brooke Gordon, Avery Director of the Library at The Huntington. “Worlds Unfolding brings that idea to life for curious readers of all ages, using the Huntington Library’s collections to illuminate the many ways humans have observed, questioned, imagined, and pursued knowledge.” 

The Huntington’s history of science collection is one of the largest and most important in North America. Its materials primarily document Western practices and theories in science, medicine, technology, and related fields. Highlights include the largest collection of Isaac Newton materials outside the United Kingdom; the records of Southern California’s Mount Wilson Observatory; books and archives focused on women’s health and cardiovascular surgery; landmark publications in natural history; and oral histories related to the aerospace industry. 

“Science is the history of science,” said Daniel Lewis, Dibner Senior Curator for the History of Science and Technology at The Huntington and co-author of Worlds Unfolding. “It has a deep history that runs right up to the present day—one that remains relevant to our present and our future endeavors.” 

Inside Worlds Unfolding 

A booklet accompanying the publication’s five volumes features an introductory essay by Bill Nye, an engineer, author, and longtime host of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Bill Nye the Science Guy. Nye writes: “These volumes carry visual and verbal descriptions of humankind’s biggest ideas and an astounding number of the remarkable objects we’ve created. They are extraordinary.” 

Readers may move through the books in any order, guided by theme, image, association, or whim. 

“Human curiosity rarely follows a straight line, and neither does Worlds Unfolding,” said Jennifer A. Watts, senior curator for library special projects at The Huntington and co-author of the publication. “We organized the volumes around five interconnected ‘worlds’ that reflect the expansive and multidisciplinary nature of science itself. By placing objects and texts from different centuries, cultures, and fields into conversation with one another, we invite readers to make unexpected connections and experience the same sense of wonder, inquiry, and discovery that has driven the pursuit of knowledge throughout human history.” 

Worlds Unfolding reveals collection materials rarely seen outside of the Library’s reading rooms. “As we combed through bookstacks and archival boxes, we realized how much insight our collections offer into science’s quieter stories and contributors: astronomical glassmakers, nurses, farmers, sailors, home cooks, teachers, poets, and artists. This project illuminates the many hands that have built and shaped our world,” said Natalie Lawler, assistant curator for special projects at The Huntington and co-author of the book. 

The publication also includes original on-site photography by two contemporary artists, Heather Rasmussen and Anna Beeke, showing selected objects in use by Library staff. The book was designed by Content Object’s Kimberly Varella.

Themes Explored in Worlds Unfolding 

• Worlds Above: astronomy, aviation, and aerospace engineering 
• Worlds Below: geology, mining, and oceanography 
• Worlds Within: anatomy, medicine, mathematics, and electricity 
• Worlds Beyond: exploration, global encounters, science fiction, and outer space 
• Worlds Alive: natural history, zoology, botany, ecosystems, and human impact 

The Huntington Library’s History of Science Holdings 

Henry E. Huntington’s foundational collection was rich in portolan charts and other cartographic treasures; sumptuous hand-colored books of natural history; works on the technology of flight; and more than 600 medical items printed in the 15th century. Landmark acquisitions have followed during the century since his death, including major collections in the history of obstetrics and medicine, astronomy, evolution, aerospace, and science fiction. The year 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of a transformational gift: Bern Dibner’s history of science library, comprising 47,000 rare books, 50 archival manuscript collections, and hundreds of scientific instruments—including a trove of historic lightbulbs and electrostatic machines.  

“At the heart of Worlds Unfolding is the Burndy Library, the landmark collection that transformed The Huntington into one of the nation’s most significant collections in the history of science, medicine, and technology,” said Joel A. Klein, Molina Curator for the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences at The Huntington and co-author of Worlds Unfolding. “The publication draws deeply from these holdings to demonstrate the global exchange of ideas that shaped scientific knowledge over hundreds of years.” 

About the Authors 

Jennifer A. Watts is senior curator for library special projects at The Huntington. She is the author of award-winning publications, including Nineteen Nineteen and A Strange and Fearful Interest. Her work explores the visual, cultural, and historical dimensions of The Huntington’s collections. 

Daniel Lewis is the Dibner Senior Curator for the History of Science and Technology at The Huntington. He is the author of Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future and Belonging on an Island: Birds, Extinction, and Evolution in Hawai‘i. An environmental historian, he writes and curates at the intersection of science, nature, and culture. 

Joel A. Klein is Molina Curator for the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences at The Huntington. His scholarship focuses on early modern medicine, science, and the histories of knowledge-making. 

Natalie Lawler is assistant curator of library special projects at The Huntington. A visual artist and researcher, she explores the technology, materiality, and language of color. 

Related Exhibitions and Programs 

“Worlds Unfolding” 
Now in development, the exhibition “Worlds Unfolding” will bring together rare books, manuscripts, scientific instruments, archival materials, and other artifacts from The Huntington’s collections. It will open when the library exhibition halls reopen as part of The Huntington’s Library/Art Building project. 

Strange Science 
Oct. 30–31, 2026 
A related public event, Strange Science, will explore unusual, surprising, and imaginative histories of science, showing how scientific inquiry often advances through the unexpected, the speculative, and the strange. Strange Science will feature a program centered on Worlds Unfolding, followed by a book signing with the authors. 

Stories from the Library: “The Mirror of the Moon” 
On view at the Huntington Art Gallery through Nov. 30, 2026 
From Galileo’s observations to science fiction and spaceflight, “The Mirror of the Moon” exhibition explores how the moon has inspired scientific inquiry, technological ambition, artistic imagination, and dreams of exploration. 

To learn more about Worlds Unfolding, visit huntington.org/worlds-unfolding-science-page.

For press inquiries or to request high-resolution press images, email huntingtonnews@huntington.org. 

About The Huntington 

The Huntington, a world-renowned cultural and educational institution, provides transformative experiences for a community of the curious. Founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, it supports research and promotes public engagement through its expansive library, art, and botanical collections. By cultivating dynamic scholarship, creating innovative programs for students and lifelong learners, and sharing its extraordinary resources, The Huntington invites all on a journey of discovery, insight, and connection. Only 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California. Learn more at huntington.org.