Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Pandgt;The concept of Gaia resonates with a wide range of people -- from nature lovers, theologians, and philosophers to environmental and earth systems scientists. The term, which scientist James Lovelock, originator of the Gaia hyposthesis, borrowed from Greek mythology, refers to the interacting system of life, soil, atmosphere, and ocean. Like the interiors of organisms, Gaia contains complex cycles and material transformations driven by biological energy. Gaia's inclusion of life means that from some perspectives it resembles life. But Gaia also differs from organisms in significant ways. Although it has changed through time, it does not evolve in a Darwinian sense. Whereas organisms are open, flow-through systems, Gaia is relatively closed to material transfer across its borders. It exists according to its own level of operating rules, a level as complex as that of organisms and the subject of the emerging field known as Earth physiology, or geophysiology.Blending science and evocative imagery, Gaia's Body offers an engaging introduction to this new field. It explains how every important chemical in the atmosphere is regulated by living processes -- why, for example, strange, spaghetti-like bacteria off the coast of Chile have an intimate connection with the plants in Long Island backyards; why "biochemical guilds" may be Earth's most important unit of life; and how scientists have detected the biosphere's "breathing." The book includes a Preface written for the paperback edition.andlt;/Pandgt;
Review
"Volk writes splendidly and passionately, but avoids the trap of letting his command of language stand in for scientific clarity." Fred Pearce New Scientist The MIT Press
Review
" Gaia"s Body is an outstanding contribution to global ecology...it brings the Gaia concept to the heart of science." Peter Westbroek Nature The MIT Press
Review
"Gaia's Body is an outstanding contribution to global ecology...it brings the Gaia concept to the heart of science."
— Peter Westbroek, Nature
Review
"Volk... weaves a tapestry of solar radiation, plate tectonics, and atmospheric chemistry, all bound by engaging prose..." Joel D. Gunn Quarterly Review of Biology The MIT Press
Review
andquot;Volk writes splendidly and passionately, but avoids the trap of letting his command of language stand in for scientific clarity.andquot;
-- Fred Pearce, New Scientist
Review
"Full of fresh and stimulating perspectives on Earth System science for any student or teacher in that field."
— Bill Chaloner, Biologist"Volk... weaves a tapestry of solar radiation, plate tectonics, and atmospheric chemistry, all bound by engaging prose..."
— Joel D. Gunn, Quarterly Review of Biology"Volk writes splendidly and passionately, but avoids the trap of letting his command of language stand in for scientific clarity."
— Fred Pearce, New Scientist"Gaia's Body is an outstanding contribution to global ecology...it brings the Gaia concept to the heart of science."
— Peter Westbroek, Nature
Review
"Full of fresh and stimulating perspectives on Earth System science for any student or teacher in that field." Bill Chaloner Biologist The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Full of fresh and stimulating perspectives on Earth System science for any student or teacher in that field." Bill Chaloner Biologistandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;" andlt;Iandgt;Gaia"s Bodyandlt;/Iandgt; is an outstanding contribution to global ecology...it brings the Gaia concept to the heart of science." Peter Westbroek Natureandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Volk writes splendidly and passionately, but avoids the trap of letting his command of language stand in for scientific clarity." Fred Pearce New Scientistandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Volk... weaves a tapestry of solar radiation, plate tectonics, and atmospheric chemistry, all bound by engaging prose..." Joel D. Gunn Quarterly Review of Biologyandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Synopsis
The concept of Gaia resonates with a wide range of people -- from nature lovers, theologians, and philosophers to environmental and earth systems scientists. The term, which scientist James Lovelock, originator of the Gaia hyposthesis, borrowed from Greek mythology, refers to the interacting system of life, soil, atmosphere, and ocean. Like the interiors of organisms, Gaia contains complex cycles and material transformations driven by biological energy. Gaia's inclusion of life means that from some perspectives it resembles life. But Gaia also differs from organisms in significant ways. Although it has changed through time, it does not evolve in a Darwinian sense. Whereas organisms are open, flow-through systems, Gaia is relatively closed to material transfer across its borders. It exists according to its own level of operating rules, a level as complex as that of organisms and the subject of the emerging field known as Earth physiology, or geophysiology.Blending science and evocative imagery, Gaia's Body offers an engaging introduction to this new field. It explains how every important chemical in the atmosphere is regulated by living processes -- why, for example, strange, spaghetti-like bacteria off the coast of Chile have an intimate connection with the plants in Long Island backyards; why "biochemical guilds" may be Earth's most important unit of life; and how scientists have detected the biosphere's "breathing." The book includes a Preface written for the paperback edition.
Synopsis
An engaging introduction to the emerging field known as Earth physiology, or geophysiology.
The concept of Gaia resonates with a wide range of people -- from nature lovers, theologians, and philosophers to environmental and earth systems scientists. The term, which scientist James Lovelock, originator of the Gaia hyposthesis, borrowed from Greek mythology, refers to the interacting system of life, soil, atmosphere, and ocean. Like the interiors of organisms, Gaia contains complex cycles and material transformations driven by biological energy. Gaia's inclusion of life means that from some perspectives it resembles life. But Gaia also differs from organisms in significant ways. Although it has changed through time, it does not evolve in a Darwinian sense. Whereas organisms are open, flow-through systems, Gaia is relatively closed to material transfer across its borders. It exists according to its own level of operating rules, a level as complex as that of organisms and the subject of the emerging field known as Earth physiology, or geophysiology.Blending science and evocative imagery, Gaia's Body offers an engaging introduction to this new field. It explains how every important chemical in the atmosphere is regulated by living processes -- why, for example, strange, spaghetti-like bacteria off the coast of Chile have an intimate connection with the plants in Long Island backyards; why "biochemical guilds" may be Earth's most important unit of life; and how scientists have detected the biosphere's "breathing." The book includes a Preface written for the paperback edition.
Synopsis
Blending science and evocative imagery, Gaia's Body offers an engaging introduction to this new field. It explains how every important chemical in the atmosphere is regulated by living processes -- why, for example, strange, spaghetti-like bacteria off the coast of Chile have an intimate connection with the plants in Long Island backyards; why biochemical guilds may be Earth's most important unit of life; and how scientists have detected the biosphere's breathing. The book includes a Preface written for the paperback edition.
Synopsis
An engaging introduction to the emerging field known as Earth physiology, or geophysiology.
Synopsis
andlt;Pandgt;An engaging introduction to the emerging field known as Earth physiology, or geophysiology.andlt;/Pandgt;
About the Author
Tyler Volk is Science Director of Environmental Studies and Professor of Biology at New York University. He is the author of Gaia's Body: Toward a Physiology of the Earth (MIT Press, 2003), Metapatterns: Across Space, Time, and Mind, and other books.