ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ

Worms' turn

6 February 2000

Between them, Darwin and Freud killed God and defined our modern world. But
they left us with a problem. In a world without God, where nature is all, how do
we distinguish the natural from the unnatural? Adam Phillips, in Darwin’s Worms,
goes on a journey into the great men’s lives in search of some answers.
Published by Faber and Faber; £7.99, ISBN 0571200036.

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account

More from New Scientist

Explore the latest news, articles and features

Space

Possible signs of ancient life on Mars are rich in complex carbon

News

Hold the onions – and see if they make you cry

Comment

Hold the onions – and see if they make you cry

Regulars

SELSEY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Workers from Chichester council clean spilt debris from a refrigeration container that fell from a tanker and washed ashore on the beach on December 10, 2025 in Selsey, England. A clean-up effort is underway to remove debris from England's southern coastline after sixteen containers carrying bananas and other fruit tipped off the Baltic Kipper cargo ship into the Solent strait between the Isle of Wight and British mainland. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Space

The best sci-fi novel in 2026 so far – plus 6 other great reads

Culture

Human brain. Digitally enhanced 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a normal human brain. An eyeball is shown at lower left (blue).

Mind

Neuroscience can't tell us the way to govern people's brains

Leader

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

1

Woman with Alzheimer's starts conversing again after taking psilocybin

2

Our verdict on The Selfish Gene: An unpopular piece of popular science

3

You should turn off fans when it's too hot – but how hot is too hot?

4

Parenting may permanently improve brain health for mums and dads

5

Possible signs of ancient life on Mars are rich in complex carbon

6

The lunar botanist with a plan to farm vegetables on the moon

7

Faecal transplant makes the brains of old mice act young again

8

Unapproved gene therapy for boosting longevity is set to go on sale

9

Screwworm could be the first species targeted by an 'extinction drive'

10

Some of the last Neanderthals were surprisingly genetically diverse
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop