From the scorching center of Earth's core to the outer limits of
its atmosphere, from the gradual process of erosion that carved the
Grand Canyon to the earth-shaking fury of volcanoes and
earthquakes, this fascinating book -- inspired by the award-winning
Hall of Planet Earth at New York City's American Museum of Natural
History -- tells the story of the evolution of our planet and of
the science that makes it work. With the same exuberance and
expertise they brought to the creation of the Hall of Planet Earth,
co-curators Edmond A. Mathez and James D. Webster offer a guided
tour of Earth's dynamic, 4.6-billion-year history.
Including numerous full-color photographs of the innovative
exhibit and helpful, easy-to-understand illustrations, the authors
explore the major factors in our planet's evolution: how Earth
emerged from the swirling dusts of a nascent solar system; how an
oxygen-rich, life-sustaining atmosphere developed; how continents,
mountain ranges, and oceans formed; and how earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions alter Earth's surface. Traversing geologic time
and delving into the depths of the planet- -- beginning with
meteorites containing minuscule particles that are the solar
system's oldest known objects, and concluding with the unusual
microbial life that lives on the chemical and thermal energy
produced by sulfide vents in the ocean floor -- "The Earth Machine"
provides an up-to-date overview of the central theories and
discoveries in earth science today. By incorporating stories of
real-life fieldwork, Mathez and Webster explain how Earth is
capable of supporting life, how even the smallest rocks can hold
the key to explaining the formation of mountains, and how
scientists have learned to read nature's subtle clues and interpret
Earth's ever-evolving narrative.
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