Does there exist, deep within the earth's crust, a second biosphere-- composed of very primitive, thermophilic (heat-loving) bacteria, and containing more living matter than the entire surface? This idea, first proposed by the author in the early 1980s, is now supported by a growing body of evidence. The implications are astonishing: is the deep biosphere where life originated? Can Mars and other seemingly dead planets contain deep biospheres? Is there yet another--deeper, hotter--biosphere within the earth, based on silicon instead of carbon? This is the first book to explore this very controversial, intriguing theory.
"...always original, always important, usually controversial, and usually right..." FROM THE FOREWORD BY FREEMAN DYSON "...an extraordinary theory from one of the world's most original minds...." NIGEL HAWKES, THE TIMES, LONDON.
From the reviews:
"always original, always important, usually controversial, and usually right"
- FROM THE FOREWORD BY FREEMAN DYSON
"an extraordinary theory from one of the world's most original minds."
- NIGEL HAWKES, THE TIMES, LONDON
"The leading supporter of the abiotic theory in the U.S. is Prof. Thomas Gold of Cornell. His 1999 book, The Deep Hot Biosphere (Springer-Verlag) is a thorough discussion of the issues. It is based in part on research financed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Among prominent scientists whose work supports the abiotic theory are Jean Whelan of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Mahlon Kennicutt of Texas A&M University, and J.F Kenny of the Gas Resources Corporation."
- http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=4092
"There is much to be said about this important book ... . Gold exhibits the irreversible and universal genius that we recognize in Aristotle and Leonardo da Vinci. ... The versatility and rangeof knowledge exhibited is remarkable. ... The Deep Hot Biosphere is a highly interesting and important book; it should be required reading for every geology student." (David Deming, Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 17 (2), 2003)
"Thomas Gold is a physicist who is not afraid of controversy. ... His big new theory ... is that oil and natural gas are produced by geology and chemistry of the hot deep layers below the Earth's surface ... . The book is the best kind of science writing: contentious and passionate, with all the evidence there for you to weigh up." (New Scientist, August, 2001)
"always original, always important, usually controversial, and usually right"
- FROM THE FOREWORD BY FREEMAN DYSON
"an extraordinary theory from one of the world's most original minds."
- NIGEL HAWKES, THE TIMES, LONDON
"The leading supporter of the abiotic theory in the U.S. is Prof. Thomas Gold of Cornell. His 1999 book, The Deep Hot Biosphere (Springer-Verlag) is a thorough discussion of the issues. It is based in part on research financed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Among prominent scientists whose work supports the abiotic theory are Jean Whelan of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Mahlon Kennicutt of Texas A&M University, and J.F Kenny of the Gas Resources Corporation."
- http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=4092
"There is much to be said about this important book ... . Gold exhibits the irreversible and universal genius that we recognize in Aristotle and Leonardo da Vinci. ... The versatility and rangeof knowledge exhibited is remarkable. ... The Deep Hot Biosphere is a highly interesting and important book; it should be required reading for every geology student." (David Deming, Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 17 (2), 2003)
"Thomas Gold is a physicist who is not afraid of controversy. ... His big new theory ... is that oil and natural gas are produced by geology and chemistry of the hot deep layers below the Earth's surface ... . The book is the best kind of science writing: contentious and passionate, with all the evidence there for you to weigh up." (New Scientist, August, 2001)