A comprehensive overview of Earth's biosphere, written with scientific rigor and essay-like flair.In his latest book, Vaclav Smil tells the story of the Earth's biosphere from its origins to its near and long-term future. He explains the workings of its parts and what is known about their interactions. With essay-like flair, he examines the biosphere's physics, chemistry, biology, geology, ocea…
An interdisciplinary and quantitative account of human claims on the biosphere's stores of living matter, from prehistoric hunting to modern energy production. The biosphere—the Earth's thin layer of life—dates from nearly four billion years ago, when the first simple organisms appeared. Many species have exerted enormous influence on the biosphere's character and productivity, but none …
"Guided by the Four Laws of Biotics, the book details how technological humanity should interact with the biosphere and each other in accordance with Darwinian principles, which illuminate a middle ground between unacceptable apocalypse or unattainable utopia, with two hopeful options: alter our behavior now at great expense based on Darwinian principles and extend current civilization, or fail…