The story of the most abundant substance on Earth, from its origins in
the birth of stars billions of years ago to its importance in the living
world.
Water is so ubiquitous in our lives that it is easy to take for granted.
The average American uses ninety gallons of water a day; nearly every
liquid we encounter is mostly water--milk, for example, is 87 percent
water. Clouds and ice--water in other forms--affect our climate. Water
is the most abundant substance on Earth, and the third-most abundant
molecule in the universe. In this lavishly illustrated volume, science
writer Jack Challoner tells the story of water, from its origins in the
birth of stars to its importance in the living world.
Water is perhaps the most studied compound in the universe--although
mysteries about it remain--and Challoner describes how thinkers from
ancient times have approached the subject. He offers a detailed and
fascinating look at the structure and behavior of water molecules,
explores the physics of water--explaining, among other things, why ice
is slippery--and examines the chemistry of water. He investigates
photosynthesis and water's role in evolutionary history, and discusses
water and weather, reviewing topics that range from snowflake science to
climate change. Finally, he considers the possibility of water beyond
our own hydrosphere--on other planets, on the Moon, in interstellar
space.
