Science stars Leonard Susskind and Stephen Hawking squabbled for years over whether or not energy is destroyed in a black hole. At stake in this nerd war: our very understanding of the universe. Susskind’s new book describes the fundamental workings of black holes, drawing analogies to grade-school-level geometry, tidal pulls, and tadpoles—and it comes with handy illustrations, too. All to prove that, well, Hawking was wrong.

The restlessly creative (and constantly commissioned) composer Nico Muhly continues along his rigorously offbeat path on his second album. The title piece has mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer reciting a list of old phone numbers and addresses that she and Muhly wrote from memory; “Wonders” includes settings of a poem by King James I and an excerpt from The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (circa 1356). Electronica, minimalism, and the Baroque all meet here.

Small aspiring authors thrill at the possibilities of this site, which lets writer-illustrator kids build, share, and win kudos for their picture books. And you know you'll say yes when she wants to order a printed copy. Tough-love tip: Pay for hardcover if she creates from scratch, paperback if she uses other kids’ uploaded illos or relies on Tikatok's story starters, which, like Alien Invasion, require details, endings, and art.