Cycles of Life by Vaclav Smil

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Summary

Exploring the scientific side of the Gaia hypothesis, this work describes how living organisms assure their survival by actively participating in complex cycling of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. Updates are provided on the complex interplay of human beings, other organisms, and biospheric changes.

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Cycles of Life by Vaclav Smil

Smil explores the scientific kernel in the mystical shell of the Gaia hypothesis. He describes how living organisms assure their survival by actively participating in the complex cycling of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur. He updates us on what has been learned about the complex interplay of human beings, other organisms, chemical reactions and geological changes in the Earth's biosphere. Cycles of Life describes how biospheric cycles work, how we interfere in their natural flows, and how we could moderate or avert further deterioration.

Vaclav Smil has authored 35 books and over 400 papers in the subjects of materials, energy, environmental and population change, food production and nutrition, technical innovation, risk assessment, and public policy. His research interests are diverse and include a variety of disciplines. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, a member of the Royal Society of Canada (Science Academy), and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba. Foreign Policy named him one of the top 100 global thinkers in 2010. He was the first non-American to receive the American Association for the Advancement of Science Prize for Public Understanding of Science and Technology. He has served as a consultant for several US, EU, and international agencies, and has spoken at approximately 400 conferences and workshops in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Finally, in a Wired.com story in 2013, he had the honor of having Bill Gates say, There is no author whose books I look forward to more than Vaclav Smil.

SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780716750796
ISBN 10 0716750791
Title Cycles of Life
Author Vaclav Smil
Series Scientific American Library
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher Scientific American Library
Year published 1997-01-01
Number of pages 256
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.