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Essays & Commentary - Life's Edge: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive

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Book Synopsis: FINALIST FOR THE PEN/E.O. WILSON LITERARY SCIENCE WRITING AWARD***A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2021***A SCIENCE NEWS FAVORITE BOOK OF 2021***A SMITHSONIAN TOP TEN SCIENCE BOOK OF 2021

“Stories that both dazzle and edify… This book is not just about life, but about discovery itself.” —Siddhartha Mukherjee, New York Times Book Review

We all assume we know what life is, but the more scientists learn about the living world—from protocells to brains, from zygotes to pandemic viruses—the harder they find it is to locate life’s edge. Carl Zimmer investigates one of the biggest questions of all: What is life? The answer seems obvious until you try to seriously answer it. Is the apple sitting on your kitchen counter alive, or is only the apple tree it came from deserving of the word? If we can’t answer that question here on earth, how will we know when and if we discover alien life on other worlds? The question hangs over some of society’s most charged conflicts—whether a fertilized egg is a living person, for example, and when we ought to declare a person legally dead.

Life's Edge is an utterly fascinating investigation that no one but one of the most celebrated science writers of our generation could craft. Zimmer journeys through the strange experiments that have attempted to re-create life. Literally hundreds of definitions of what that should look like now exist, but none has yet emerged as an obvious winner. Lists of what living things have in common do not add up to a theory of life. It's never clear why some items on the list are essential and others not. Coronaviruses have altered the course of history, and yet many scientists maintain they are not alive. Chemists are creating droplets that can swarm, sense their environment, and multiply. Have they made life in the lab?

Whether he is handling pythons in Alabama or searching for hibernating bats in the Adirondacks, Zimmer revels in astounding examples of life at its most bizarre. He tries his own hand at evolving life in a test tube with unnerving results. Charting the obsession with Dr. Frankenstein's monster and how the world briefly believed radium was the source of all life, Zimmer leads us all the way into the labs and minds of researchers engineering life from scratch.

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Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey of discovery? Introducing Life's Edge: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive, the groundbreaking book that challenges our understanding of life itself. This captivating read, written by acclaimed science writer Carl Zimmer, delves into the depths of scientific exploration to unravel the mysteries surrounding the concept of life.

What is life? It may seem like a simple question, but as Zimmer demonstrates, the answer is far from straightforward. With each new revelation in the realm of science, we find ourselves questioning our preconceived notions. From the smallest protocells to the complexities of the human brain, Life's Edge explores the boundaries of life, pushing the limits of our knowledge.

Imagine a world where even the simplest apple becomes a topic of contemplation. Is it the apple itself that holds the essence of life, or is it the tree it grew from? Such profound questions extend beyond our own planet, as we ponder the existence of life on other worlds. In the midst of these inquiries lies a deeper understanding of our own existence and the ethical dilemmas that arise, such as the definition of life and the determination of a person's death.

Prepare to be astounded as Zimmer takes you on a journey through the realms of scientific experimentation. With countless attempts to recreate life, our understanding remains fragmented. While numerous definitions and characteristics have been compiled, none have emerged as a definitive answer. Even the infamous coronaviruses that have had a profound impact on our world challenge our perceptions of life. Witness the incredible achievements of chemists who create droplets with the ability to swarm, sense their surroundings, and multiply. Have these innovative minds unlocked the key to creating life in a lab?

Embark on thrilling adventures alongside Zimmer as he encounters the strangest examples of life. From handling pythons in Alabama to searching for hibernating bats in the Adirondacks, you will be captivated by the diversity and complexity of the living world. Brace yourself as Zimmer delves into his own experiments, attempting to evolve life in a test tube with both awe-inspiring and unsettling results.

Life's Edge is not just a book; it is an extraordinary exploration that challenges everything we thought we knew about life. Join Carl Zimmer and be immersed in his eloquent narrative, transporting you directly into the fascinating world of scientific discovery. Don't miss out on this eye-opening experience - grab your copy now!

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