Science and Inquiry discussion

For February 2016, we will be reading Life's Engines: How Microbes made the Earth Habitable. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

Elentarri, I don't understand your post. What does it have to do with the book to be discussed? Did you perhaps intend to nominate that book for the March read? If so, it should go in the following thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Betsy wrote: "Elentarri, I don't understand your post."

Sorry - wrong thread. I suppose that happens when having multiple threads open. I've deleted it.

Falkowski opens with a great hook, recognizing and paying homage to a role I was pretty much unaware of performed by microbes, "we are all macroscopic bodies and our existence is made possible only by the evolution of microscopic nanomachines that evolved a long, long time ago, in microbes. They are our true ancestors and the true stewards of the Earth". That is a bold statement and I can tell that he can back it up. Our group has picked another good one!

Sounds interesting, I'd like to read that one.

Betsy wrote: "For February 2016, we will be reading Life's Engines: How Microbes made the Earth Habitable. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time."

I'd like to read this one, too.

I really love this author. His explanation of chemiosmosis -- how the movement of charged atoms across the membrane makes all the energy cells needed to make Earth the beautiful green and blue planet it is today -- was wonderful. More incredible still is how conserved the process of chemiosmosis is in later evolved animals, such as humans. The same process that gave us oxygen, and ozone layer, a breathable atmosphere, green grass, and plenty to eat-- is also what makes it possible for us humans to walk, talk, think, grow, reproduce, etc.

There are moments when a person can stand on Earth and feel spiritually connected to it. In order to feel that feeling, there isn't even a need to know just how connected we truly are to Earth. It's just a glorious experience. But, to me, knowing how one form gave rise to another, and knowing those forms live within me, makes that experience all the more special.

I found every page of this book challenging, satisfying, and wonderful.

I also enjoyed this book very much. Paul Falkowski is a good writer, and his active research on the subject of microbes gives a book a lot of credibility. I learned a lot, since this is definitely not my field. I highly recommend it! Here is my review.

In starting this book, I like the writing.