The Brilliant Abyss
Exploring the Majestic Hidden Life of the Deep Ocean, and the Looming Threat That Imperils It
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4.2 • 21 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
A journey into the alien depths of the sea, and into our possible future, from a marine biologist known for “nature writing at its most engaging” (Sunday Express).
A golden era of deep-sea discovery is underway as revolutionary studies rewrite the very notion of life on Earth and the rules of what is possible. In the process, the abyss is being revealed as perhaps the most amazing part of our planet, its topography even more varied and extreme than its landmass counterpart.
Teeming with unsuspected life, an extraordinary, interconnected ecosystem deep below the waves has a huge effect on our daily lives, influencing climate and weather systems, with the potential for much more—good or bad, depending on how it is exploited. Currently, the fantastic creatures that live in the deep—many of them incandescent in a world without light—and its formations capture and trap vast quantities of carbon that would otherwise poison our atmosphere, and novel bacteria as yet undiscovered hold the promise of potent new medicines. Yet the deep also holds huge mineral riches lusted after by nations and corporations; mining them could ultimately devastate the planet, compounded by the deepening impacts of ubiquitous pollutants and rampant overfishing.
Eloquently and passionately, the author of Spirals in Time and Eye of the Shoal brings to life the majesty and mystery of an alien realm that nonetheless sustains us, while urgently making clear the price we could pay if it is further disrupted. The Brilliant Abyss is at once a revelation and a clarion call to preserve this vast unseen world.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
It may shock you to learn that we know more about the moon than we do about the deepest reaches of Earth’s oceans. Thankfully, marine biologist Helen Scales is here to remedy that with this fascinating book about the wonders of the sea. We were enchanted by every stop on this incredible journey, which introduces us to self-illuminating creatures and microbes that devour carbon dioxide. Scales’ loving and descriptive prose brings each peculiar new species to life. A couple of our favorites? A sea cucumber shaped like a butcher-shop chicken and a tadpole-shaped snailfish that thrives at more than 5,000 meters below sea level. It’s especially astonishing to learn how vital this under-explored terrain is to our planet’s ecosystem—Scales explains why issues like deep sea fishing and excessive ocean mining are so important to address. By the end of this magical read, you’ll be swimming with new ideas about the incredible undersea world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Marine biologist Scales (Eye of the Shoal) tours the lightless depths of the ocean and showcases its denizens in this show-stopping work. She begins by pointing out that sunlight can't penetrate below 3,300 feet below sea level, and the average depth of the oceans is 12,500 feet. This zone beyond light's reach "is home to countless unimaginable life-forms," such as deep-diving sperm whales, gelatinous jellyfish, strange colony animals called siphonophores that can reach 150 feet in length, and extremely rare iron-shelled scaly-foot snails. Seamounts, huge underwater mountains that can dwarf their terrestrial cousins, also host a dizzying array of life. Scales stresses the importance that the ocean plays in maintaining human life as a critical part of Earth's climate mechanism and as a potential source of medicines, particularly antibiotics; she also warns of the many ways humanity threatens ocean life, such as overfishing, dumping toxic waste, and mining beneath the sea floor. Scales concludes with a convincing plea for creating "a sanctuary in the deep," an international agreement in which the unexplored depths of the ocean are protected from industry, but open to science. This vivid survey hits the mark as an awe-filled paean to the mysteries of the deep.
Customer Reviews
saving the oceans saves the earth
 this brilliant and fascinating study of the ocean’s deep abyss points out its value and the damage we are doing to that which gives us life. This book should be mandatory reading. By ignoring it, you put your life and the life of the planet at risk.