The Elements We Live By: How Iron Helps Us Breathe, Potassium Lets Us See, and Other Surprising Superpowers of the Periodic Table - Softcover

Røyne, Anja

Softcover

ISBN 10: 147214466X ISBN 13: 9781472144669

Publisher: Robinson, 2020

Synopsis

WINNER OF THE 2018 BRAGE PRIZE

'[T]his lovely book. An enjoyable sweep through topics ranging from respiration to space exploration -solid science presented in an engagingly human way'
Andrew Crumey, author of The Great Chain of Unbeing

'Perfect popular science . . . not just a well-written story about the elements, but a book about being human in the world today'
Åsmund H. Eikenes, author of Splash: A History of Our Bodies

We all know that we depend on elements for survival - from oxygen in the air we breathe to carbon in the molecular structures of all living things. But we seldom appreciate how, say, phosphorus holds our DNA together or how potassium powers our optic nerves enabling us to see.

Physicist and award-winning author Anja Røyne takes us on an astonishing journey through chemistry and physics, introducing the building blocks from which we humans - and everything else in the world - are made. Not only does Røyne explain why our bodies need iron, phosphorus, silicon, potassium and many more elements in just the right amounts in order to function, she also shows us where in the world these precious elements are found (some of them in limited and quickly depleting quantities).

Røyne helps us understand how precariously balanced our lives - and ways of living - really are, and to appreciate little known and generally unsung heroes of the periodic table in an entirely new light.

About this title

About the Author

Anja Røyne is a scientist and lecturer in the Department of Physics at the University of Oslo. A physicist with a background in solar energy, Røyne has also researched geological and geochemical processes and is now working on creating materials with biotechnology. In addition, she runs her own science blog and often contributes to popular science radio programmes and newspapers.

https://anjaroyne.net/

Twitter @anjaroyne

From the Back Cover

A journey around the world to discover where in nature we can find the elements of life and the many, surprising ways in which they're essential to our survival



We all know that we depend on elements for survival - from oxygen in the air we breathe to carbon in the molecular structures of all living things. But we seldom appreciate how, say, phosphorus holds our DNA together or how potassium powers our optic nerves enabling us to see.

Physicist and award-winning author Anja Røyne takes us on an astonishing journey through chemistry and physics, introducing the building blocks from which we humans - and everything else in the world - are made. Not only does Røyne explain why our bodies need iron, phosphorus, silicon, potassium and many more elements in just the right amounts in order to function, she also shows us where in the world these precious elements are found (some of them in limited and quickly depleting quantities).

Røyne helps us understand how precariously balanced our lives - and ways of living - really are, and to appreciate little known and generally unsung heroes of the periodic table in an entirely new light.

'An excellent book about the elements . . . a popular science heavyweight which wears its knowledge lightly'
Mari Grydeland, Aftenposten

Edition details

• Publisher: Robinson
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 147214466X
• ISBN 13: 9781472144669
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224