Wonders of Life

Wonders of Life
Andrew Cohen

Professor Brian Cox

What is Life? Where did it come from? Why does it end?In this beautiful and definitive new book, Professor Brian Cox takes us on an incredible journey to discover how a few fundamental laws gave birth to the most complex, diverse and unique force in the Universe – life itself.There are thought to be as many as 100 million different species on Earth – each and every one governed by the same laws. Everything in the Universe, from the smallest microbe to the largest cluster of galaxies, is constructed from the same fundamental building blocks and is subject to the same laws of nature. What is true for a bacterium is true for a blue whale. This is the story of the amazing diversity and adaptability of life told through the fundamental laws that govern it. Through his voyage of discovery, Brian will explain how the astonishing inventiveness of nature came about and uncover the milestones in the epic journey from the origin of life to our own lives.From the vast networks of subterranean freshwater caverns of the Yucatan peninsula to the unique and precious island of Madagascar, Brian will seek out the places where the biggest questions about life may be answered: what is life? Why do we need water and why does life end?Using the latest advances in science as well as the cutting-edge graphics used in The Sunday Times bestsellers Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe, Brian will uncover the secrets of life in the most unexpected locations and in the most stunning detail.

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First published in 2013

Text © Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen 2013

Photographs, with the exception of those detailed in the picture credits section © BBC

Infographics, diagrams, design & layout © HarperCollins Publishers 2013

By arrangement with the BBC

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BBC logo © BBC 1996

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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication

Source ISBN: 9780007452675

Ebook Edition © 2013 ISBN: 9780007452682

Version: 2018-06-18

All reasonable efforts have been made by the publishers to trace the copyright owners of the material quoted in this book and of any images reproduced in this book. In the event that the publishers are notified of any mistakes or omissions by copyright owners after publication of this book, the publishers will endeavour to rectify the position accordingly for any subsequent printing.

Publishing Director: Myles Archibald

Senior Editor: Julia Koppitz

Cover Design: HarperCollins Publishers

Book interior Design and Art Direction: Zoë Bather, Studio8 Design

Infographics: Nathalie Lees

Production: Stuart Masheter

Colour reproduction by FMG

For George Albert Eagle, a Wonder of Life

Brian Cox

To my beautiful Anna, it’s a precious thing, even more so when you share it.

Thank you for our first ten years and for all your endless love, support and guidance.

Andrew Cohen

Cover (#ufdc0a097-c07a-54c8-9707-3d36e5fb64c9)

Title Page (#u4337fdc6-eb83-5673-8167-56cac235f4eb)

Copyright (#u5ab4af6d-909a-5b12-ae71-c7fe0f9c3053)

Dedication (#uf024e1df-309b-588e-adbf-70f4971e74b8)

INTRODUCTION (#ue4845984-b65d-5f88-a759-bbcff786b33f)

WONDERS OF LIFE (#ue4845984-b65d-5f88-a759-bbcff786b33f)

CHAPTER 1

HOME

Evolution of Life (#litres_trial_promo)

Return of the King (#ulink_18653df5-23ba-5150-9609-9d04b19e66bd)

A Very Special Home (#ulink_4f138c43-6015-5c9e-9709-25f11bc48f89)

Simple but Complex (#ulink_f9b5cbec-6169-541b-958a-f737aa85f01a)

The History of the Exploration of Water (#ulink_2b2f737d-6318-57fc-9d69-213dda9fceb0)

Water, Water Everywhere… (#ulink_3020c97b-998d-5100-bd66-cf57a1359119)

Water: the Essential Ingredient (#ulink_7dded8d3-e5ab-5f9f-8faa-59e93f51029f)