Each day, on average, every square metre of the Earth's surface is
visited by a speck of space dust. We breath it, eat it, sleep on
it. It all adds up to more than a hundred tons of space dust
pelting Earth every day. Space dust tends to be about one tenth the
width of a human hair. As with most other dust, even the dust that
we can see such as in dust storms off the desert or the soot and
smog of the city, we pay scant attention to it. Sometimes this is
to our peril. Fortunately for all of us, dust has its champions -
dust scientists of various stripes and molds and methods, and
science writer Hannah Holmes has brought their work together in a
popular, wide-ranging book that is both readable and important.
There are all kinds of dust: besides space dust, tons of billions
of particles rise into the air every year from deserts, volcanoes,
sea salt, plant fragments, insect pieces, car and plane exhaust,
domestic heating and cigarettes. There is ancient dust - from
dinosaurs and early humans - and there is dangerous dust which
triggers breathing difficulties and carries disease. Holmes's reach
extends across the fields of geology, astronomy, natural history
and human health. Her curiosity moves from Earth to Space and from
the Big Bang to the end of the World. There are plenty of amazing
facts along the way as well as a light, humorous approach. We are
also treated to a few vital paragraphs on dust bunnies which
contain everything from Saharan dust to the bones of dinosaurs and
bits of modern tire rubber. They also hold poisonous lead,
long-banned pesticides, molds, bacteria, smoke particles, dust-mite
parts and a fair sample of the convenient chemicals that we use to
clean our houses. And don't forget space dust. Contrary to
intuition, evidence suggests that dust bunnies, minus the harmful
chemicals, may well be responsible for healthier children. This
book turns housecleaning into an existential act. As we rush about
stirring up dust, we must remember that dust is here to stay. And
the dust is also part of us: every atom inside our bodies came from
inside the stars. Thus, we ourselves are made of star dust and will
one day return to take our place in the shifting patterns of the
dust of the Earth and the Universe. (Kirkus UK)
"Nothing to sneeze at."–Time
Acclaim for The Secret Life of Dust
"You will never again look disparagingly upon dust. Hannah Holmes has written my favorite kind of book––one that takes a seemingly mundane subject and trumpets its significance in our lives not only on Earth, but in the Heavens."
–– Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson, Director, Hayden Planetarium and author of One Universe: At Home in the Cosmos
"A fascinating journey into the unseen flecks that underpin our world and those beyond."
–– Peter Tyson, author of The Eighth Continent
"Witty, interesting, and absolutely terrifying."
–– Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"An excellent work. Dust is small, but The Secret Life of Dust is a big, and fun, accomplishment."
–– Austin American-Statesman
"Few browsers will put science writer Hannah Holmes’ latest volume down without adding it to their to-be-read list."
–– Dallas Morning News
"Worth the price on its dust jacket. Holmes’ book belongs on your shelf, in a dusty nook between the works of Diane Ackerman and John McPhee."
–– Chicago Tribune
"It’s an entertaining little book. . . . After reading The Secret Life of Dust, the fluff in your vacuum cleaner will never look quite the same again."
–– New Scientist
"An unusual perspective on things we don’t notice."
–– The Sunday Times
"Hannah Holmes is a science writer to watch. Who ever thought dust could so shine?"
–– Kirkus Reviews
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