A biological and cultural biography of the ubiquitous yet mystical
seashell.
Seashells, stretching from the deep past into the present day, are
touchstones leading into fascinating realms of the natural world and
cutting-edge science. In Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious
Afterlife of Seashells, marine biologist Helen Scales shows how
seashells have been sculpted by the fundamental rules of mathematics and
evolution; how they gave us color, gems, food, and new medicines.
Members of the phylum Mollusca are among the most ancient animals on the
planet. Their shells provide homes for other animals, and across the
ages, people have used shells not only as trinkets but also as a form of
money, and as powerful symbols of sex and death, prestige and war.
The science and natural history of shells are woven into a compelling
narrative, revealing their cultural importance and the ways they have
been used by humans over the millennia, even as a source of mind-bending
drugs. After surviving multiple mass extinctions millions of years ago,
mollusks and their shells still face an onslaught of anthropocentric
challenges, including climate change and corrosive oceans. But rather
than dwelling on all that is lost, Scales emphasizes that seashells
offer an accessible way to reconnect people with nature, helping to
bridge the gap between ourselves and the living world. Spirals in Time
shows why nature matters, and reveals the hidden wonders that you can
hold in the palm of your hand.
