Life at the Extremes: The Science of SurvivalThe challenge of scaling the highest mountain, exploring the deepest ocean, crossing the hottest desert, or swimming in near-freezing water is irresistible to many people. Life at the Extremes is an engrossing exploration of what happens to our bodies in these seemingly uninhabitable environments. Frances Ashcroft weaves stories of extraordinary feats of endurance with historical material and the latest scientific findings as she investigates the limits of human survival and the remarkable adaptations that enable us to withstand extreme conditions. What causes mountain sickness? How is it possible to reach the top of Everest without supplementary oxygen, when passengers in an airplane that depressurized at the same altitude would lose consciousness in seconds? Why do divers get the bends but sperm whales do not? How long you can survive immersion in freezing water? Why don't penguins get frostbite? Will men always be faster runners than women? How far into deep space can a body travel? As she considers these questions, Ashcroft introduces a cast of extraordinary scientific personalities—inventors and explorers who have charted the limits of human survival. She describes many intriguing experiments and shows how scientific knowledge has enabled us to venture toward and beyond ever greater limits. Life at the Extremes also considers what happens when athletes push their bodies to the edge, and tells of the remarkable adaptations that enable some organisms to live in boiling water, in highly acidic lakes, or deep in the middle of rocks. Anyone who flies in an airplane, sails the high seas, goes skiing or walking in the mountains, or simply weathers subzero winters or sweltering summers will be captivated by this book. Full of scientific information, beautifully written, and packed with many fascinating digressions, Life at the Extremes lures us to the very edge of human survival. |
Contents
Climbing Kilimanjaro | 1 |
LIFE AT THE TOP | 5 |
Taking The Plunge | 43 |
LIFE UNDER PRESSURE | 47 |
Getting into Hot Water | 99 |
LIFE IN THE HOT ZONE | 103 |
Cold Water Blues | 143 |
LIFE IN THE COLD | 147 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acclimatization acid aircraft altitude amount anabolic steroids animals archaea ascent astronauts athletes atmospheric pressure bacteria black smokers blood vessels body fluids body temperature bone brain breathing bubbles capsaicin carbon dioxide cause cent colour concentration cool core temperature crew damage decompression decompression sickness decrease depth diver diving Earth effects energy environment exercise experience extreme extremophiles freezing frostbite frozen g-force haemoglobin Haldane heart heat loss heatstroke heliox high altitude human hydrogen hypothermia increase J.B.S. Haldane kilometres known layer legs less limit live lungs marathon metabolism metres microgravity minutes mountain sickness muscle nitrogen normal occurs ocean orbit organisms partial pressure physiology problem produced proteins pure oxygen radiation rapidly red blood cells reduced result rise rocks runners salt scientists skin space flight spacecraft spacesuit speed stored summit of Everest supply surface survive sweat tion tissues tolerate Torr underwater warm