The Deep Hot Biosphere: The Myth of Fossil FuelsSuppose someone claimed that we are not running out of petroleum? Or that life on Earth began below the surface of our planet? Or that oil and gas are not "fossil fuels"? Or that if we find extraterrestrial life it is likely to be within, not on, other planets? You might expect to hear statements like these from an author of science fiction. But what if they came from a renowned physicist, an indisputably brilliant scientist who has been called "one of the world's most original minds"? In the The Deep Hot Biosphere, Thomas Gold sets forth truly controversial and astonishing theories about where oil and gas come from, and how they acquire their organic "signatures." The conclusions he reaches in this book might be at first difficult to believe, but they are supported by a growing body of evidence, and by the indisputabel stature and seriousness Gold brings to any scientific enterprise. In this book we see a brilliant and boldly orginal thinker, increasingly a rarity in modern science, as he developes a revolutionary new view about the fundamental workings of our planet. Thomas Gold is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and an Emertius Professor at Cornell University. Regarded as one of the most creative and wide-ranging scientists of his generation, he has taughtat Cambridge University and Harvard, and for 20 years was the Director of the Cornell Center for Radiophysics and Space Research. |
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abundant archaea areas atmosphere atoms bacteria biogenic theory biological debris borehole carbon dioxide Chapter chemical energy chirality CO₂ coal component concentrated contained crude oil deep biosphere deep hot biosphere deep-earth gas theory deep-ocean vents deeper depth derived diamonds domain drilling earth earth's surface earthquake eruptions evidence exist explained flow fossil fractionation gases geological helium hydrocar hydrocarbon fluids hydrocarbons hydrogen sulfide hydrothermal hydrothermal vent hyperthermophiles isotopic ratios kilometers layer leaching levels liquid water magnetite Mars mass material metabolic meteorite meters methane hydrates methanotrophs microbes molecular molecules mud volcanoes natural gas occur ocean floor ocean vents oil and gas organisms organometallic outgassing oxidized oxygen photosynthesis planet planetary bodies pore spaces present pressure primordial produced quake quantities realm regions reservoirs rock sample Science sedimentary sediments Siljan Ring sludge solar system Steven Soter subsurface supply surface biosphere Sweden temperature Thomas Gold tion unoxidized carbon upwelling vapor volcanic