Synopses & Reviews
Everything the amateur astronomer needs to know about the history of the universe, from the transit of Venus to the Higgs boson, from ancient Peruvian observatories to the world's largest particle acceleratorMany people outside the science world harbor the romantic notion that astronomers spend every night with their eyes clapped to giant telescopes, looking for things. The most frequent question astronomer Fred Watson is asked by members of the public is Have you found anything—recently? Sadly, the answer is usually no. That's because finding new things is only a small part of what astronomers do, compared with investigating things they already know about. People sense that in this, the biggest of big sciences, there might be answers to some of the most profound questions that can be asked: questions about the nature of space and time, about our ultimate origins, the meaning of life, and perhaps even spirituality. Nevertheless, astronomy does provide a broader framework than most sciences for deliberations about issues big and small. And in Fred Watson we have the most witty, funny, and knowledgeable companion to take us on this ride through space, ruminating on Pluto's demotion from planetary status, Peru's ancient sky watchers, sustainable space science, microbes, the sheer pleasure of an eternal quest for knowledge, and maybe, just maybe, the meaning of life.
Review
“lighthearted excursion into the history of mankinds understanding of the universe.” —Publishers Weekly
Review
"[Watson] deftly twists and turns between astronomy history and cutting-edge research, ultimately transforming a book about space science and physics into a rarity: light reading packed with valuable information." —Scientific American
Review
"If you care about your children, read this book." —Paul R. Ehrlich, author, Human Natures
Review
"We have used the biosphere—air, water and soil—as a dump for toxic compounds as if somehow we can remain healthy on an unhealthy planet. It is a tragic illusion as Julian Cribb's Poisoned Planet so urgently warns us." —David Suzuki, author, The Sacred Balance
Synopsis
By the author of The Coming Famine, this book sounds a wake up call: we cannot rely on governments or industry to clean up the toxic manmade chemicals we've surrounded ourselves with, it's up to us to repair our poisoned planet
We want things to be cheap, convenient, and useful. Our food arrives contaminated with pesticides and wastes, wrapped in plastic made of hormone-disrupting chemicals. We bathe and dress our children in petrochemicals. Even our coffee contains miniscule traces of arsenic, cup by cup adding to the toxins accumulating in our bodies. Man-made chemicals are creating a silent epidemic. Our children are sicker; cancer, obesity, allergies, and mental health issues are on the rise in adults; and, frighteningly, we may be less intelligent than previous generations. A poisoned planet is the price we pay for our lifestyle, but Julian Cribb shows we have the tools to clean it up and create a healthier, safer future for us all.
About the Author
Julian Cribb is a distinguished science writer with more than 30 awards for journalism. He is a former newspaper editor, the founder of the influential ScienceAlert website, and the author of eight books.