Physics Around the Clock: Adventures in the Science of Everyday Living

by Michael Banks

Physics Around the Clock is an illuminating and fun journey through the physics of everyday life. From the thermodynamics of cooking the perfect pizza, or what 'plate' mechanics says about how to cut your fingernails to the optimal way to board an aeroplane, this lively book explains what physics can reveal about so many seemingly routine aspects of life. The book follows a typical day, beginning at breakfast and the morning routine, and moving through typical daytime activities and evening pursuits, such as enjoying a take-away and film. Binding it all together is physics and what physical theories or experimental techniques can reveal about our everyday situations.

Genres: Science

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2025

About the author

Michael Banks was born in Oldham, Lancashire, UK. After an undergraduate degree in physics from Loughborough University, UK, Michael did a PhD in condensed-matter physics at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Physics in Stuttgart, Germany, studying magnetism. For over a decade, Michael has been news editor of the international monthly magazine Physics World, where he covers the latest developments in physics.

Michael has given talks worldwide about science and science journalism including in China, Japan and the US. In addition to Physics World, Michael has written for Nature, BBC Focus and Science Uncovered as well as appeared on BBC Radio 4. Michael is based in Bristol, UK, where he lives with his wife and two boys. He tweets at @Mike_Banks.

Reviews

[Nikolaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy for review!

This was a really delightful little book about the goings on in the world around us on any given day, which we ordinarily take for granted. That also makes it a very accessible book about a topic that isn't usually all that accessible for the average reader. Making physics real and tangible in the sense that it's all down to earth in regular, everyday tasks. I'm no mathemagician myself, so I never made it far in physics, but I do find it a fascinating topic to read about. Not only is this a physics book, but it's also a how-it-works kind of book with everyday things from TVs to cooking pizza. So if you're like me and have a lot of curiosity about the mundane world, this book is definitely for you!

[OutlawPoet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book.

It's a very accessible book of how physics works in our everyday lives.

I've seen plenty of books that explain origins and chemistry of everyday things, but not so many that explain physics so well. From how your pet drinks water to why your razor gets dull so quickly, the author explains everything in way that's extremely engaging.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

* ARC via Publisher

[Brian Clegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the easiest ways to make science accessible is to tie it to everyday life - and this is something Michael Banks does well in his exploration of physical goings on from breakfast to bedtime.

Each of twelve chapters focuses on an aspect of our non-working/sleeping time. We begin with the morning coffee, take on the physics of breakfast food and so on, travelling through the day to end up in front of the TV show or film. I was impressed by just how much Banks could get from the simple (or, rather, anything but simple) extraction of a cup of coffee from ground coffee beans. One of the very first topics covered here was a fascinating surprise - how static electricity developed during the grinding process (a phenomenon not unlike the lightning produced by volcanoes) causes grounds to clump, and how baristas use a drop of water to overcome this.

There were plenty of such revelations, whether it was the optics of a fishbowl that can make fish disappear or the scientific complexities of cooking (and cutting) the perfect pizza. There were a couple of chapters that were personally not as interesting as the rest - one on plants and another on sport, which probably illustrates that there are bits of 'everyday living' that don't appeal to everyone. but as each will have their own particular interests, this is neither surprising nor a problem.

One chapter, on friends and family, seemed to stretch the definition of physics somewhat - it was mostly maths and sociology - but it was still interesting, so who cares? Overall the combination of the range of different topics in the twelve chapters and the number of fascinating topics that Banks manages to incorporate in what is based on a series of columns in the Institute of Physics magazine Physics World is thoroughly enjoyable.

This isn't the first such book - for example, Helen Czerski's excellent Storm in a Teacup from 2017 was also a 'physics of everyday life' title and inevitably there's a degree of overlap. But Banks has a different tone and introduces plenty of newly explained phenomena, making it an ideal dip into everyday physics.

[Cris ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found "Physics Around the Clock" to be a incredibly interesting and refreshing read. It masterfully transforms the ordinary moments of a 24-hour day into captivating lessons on the physics principles that govern our world. From the science behind our morning alarm to the physics of stargazing at night, each chapter is a delightful revelation.

The author has a true gift for explaining complex concepts in a way that is clear, engaging, and immediately relatable. This book doesn't feel like a textbook; it feels like a conversation with a brilliant friend who points out the magic hidden in plain sight. It’s the perfect blend of education and entertainment, sure to spark curiosity in readers of all backgrounds.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital review copy.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a lot of the book fascinating. The explanations of the science were well done and with clear language. I liked the conversational tone of the writing and found some of the passages very clever. But to me, several parts of the book were of peripheral or little interest, and I ended up skipping parts. But overall this book is well worth reading. Thank you to Netgalley and Prometheus for the advance reader copy.