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Oxygen

The Molecule That Made the World

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Oxygen

Written by: Nick Lane
Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
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About this listen

Three hundred million years ago, in Carboniferous times, dragonflies grew as big as seagulls, with wingspans of nearly a meter. Researchers claim they could have flown only if the air had contained more oxygen than today - probably as much as 35 percent. Giant spiders, tree ferns, marine rock formations, and fossil charcoals all tell the same story. High oxygen levels may also explain the global firestorm that contributed to the demise of the dinosaurs after the asteroid impact.

The strange and profound effects that oxygen has had on the evolution of life pose a riddle that this audiobook sets out to answer. Oxygen is a toxic gas. Divers breathing pure oxygen at depth suffer from convulsions and lung injury. Fruit flies raised at twice the normal atmospheric levels of oxygen live half as long as their siblings. Reactive forms of oxygen, known as free radicals, are thought to cause aging in people. Yet if atmospheric oxygen reached 35 percent in the Carboniferous, why did it promote exuberant growth instead of rapid aging and death?

Oxygen takes the listener on an enthralling journey, as gripping as a thriller, as it unravels the unexpected ways in which oxygen spurred the evolution of life and death.

©2002 Nick Lane (P)2020 Tantor Biological Sciences Earth Sciences Science Popular Science
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"Oxygen" by Nick Lane is an excellent book. Nick takes the reader/listener through a large canvas, from the origin of life on earth to its role in our lives.

There are excellent sections on the importance of oxygen in sustaining life and explaining its toxicity and role in aging. It is more complex than we realize, and it is worthwhile to read the book after listening to the audiobook.

If you have some essential science background and are prepared to listen, this book will open your eyes to the wonder of oxygen.

Nigel Patterson's reading is superb. Clear and engaging, he helps keep the book alive

Excellent. A little scientific knowledge helps

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Loved the way Nick has gone about explaining his theories and ring down everything to Oxygen. Right from advent of life billions of years ago, to aging of humans now. It does get a bit heavy midway because of Chemistry for a layman, but then Bio Chemistry is the foundation of the discussion! So overall a fantastic read, such needs a little bit of dedication from the reader!

A very heavy read, but thoroughly enjoyable!

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astonishing covers basic chemistry to cell biology to evolutionary concepts. throroughly enjoyable and loved the original ideas on evolution. great narration

superb

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