Caesar's last breath: decoding the secrets of the air around us
(Book)
Author:
Published:
New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2017.
Physical Desc:
viii, 373 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Status:
Carmichael
540.9 K24 2017
Central
540.9 K24 2017
North Sacramento-Hagginwood
540.9 K24 2017
Description
The Guardian's Best Science Book of 2017: the fascinating science and history of the air we breathe.
It's invisible. It's ever-present. Without it, you would die in minutes. And it has an epic story to tell.
In Caesar's Last Breath, New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean takes us on a journey through the periodic table, around the globe, and across time to tell the story of the air we breathe, which, it turns out, is also the story of earth and our existence on it. With every breath, you literally inhale the history of the world.
On the ides of March, 44 BC, Julius Caesar died of stab wounds on the Senate floor, but the story of his last breath is still unfolding; in fact, you're probably inhaling some of it now. Of the sextillions of molecules entering or leaving your lungs at this moment, some might well bear traces of Cleopatra's perfumes, German mustard gas, particles exhaled by dinosaurs or emitted by atomic bombs, even remnants of stardust from the universe's creation.
Tracing the origins and ingredients of our atmosphere, Kean reveals how the alchemy of air reshaped our continents, steered human progress, powered revolutions, and continues to influence everything we do. Along the way, we'll swim with radioactive pigs, witness the most important chemical reactions humans have discovered, and join the crowd at the Moulin Rouge for some of the crudest performance art of all time. Lively, witty, and filled with the astounding science of ordinary life, Caesar's Last Breath illuminates the science stories swirling around us every second.
It's invisible. It's ever-present. Without it, you would die in minutes. And it has an epic story to tell.
In Caesar's Last Breath, New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean takes us on a journey through the periodic table, around the globe, and across time to tell the story of the air we breathe, which, it turns out, is also the story of earth and our existence on it. With every breath, you literally inhale the history of the world.
On the ides of March, 44 BC, Julius Caesar died of stab wounds on the Senate floor, but the story of his last breath is still unfolding; in fact, you're probably inhaling some of it now. Of the sextillions of molecules entering or leaving your lungs at this moment, some might well bear traces of Cleopatra's perfumes, German mustard gas, particles exhaled by dinosaurs or emitted by atomic bombs, even remnants of stardust from the universe's creation.
Tracing the origins and ingredients of our atmosphere, Kean reveals how the alchemy of air reshaped our continents, steered human progress, powered revolutions, and continues to influence everything we do. Along the way, we'll swim with radioactive pigs, witness the most important chemical reactions humans have discovered, and join the crowd at the Moulin Rouge for some of the crudest performance art of all time. Lively, witty, and filled with the astounding science of ordinary life, Caesar's Last Breath illuminates the science stories swirling around us every second.
Copies
Location
Call Number
Status
Carmichael
540.9 K24 2017
On Shelf
Central
540.9 K24 2017
On Shelf
North Sacramento-Hagginwood
540.9 K24 2017
On Shelf
Southgate
540.9 K24 2017
On Shelf
Sylvan Oaks
540.9 K24 2017
On Shelf
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Subjects
LC Subjects
More Details
Format:
Book
Edition:
First edition.
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780316381642, 0316381640
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 357-362) and index.
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)
Kean, S. (2017). Caesar's last breath: decoding the secrets of the air around us. First edition. New York, Little, Brown and Company.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)Kean, Sam. 2017. Caesar's Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us. New York, Little, Brown and Company.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)Kean, Sam, Caesar's Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us. New York, Little, Brown and Company, 2017.
MLA Citation (style guide)Kean, Sam. Caesar's Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us. First edition. New York, Little, Brown and Company, 2017.
Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
Staff View
Grouped Work ID:
9506e3a9-8afa-b439-360c-19ca21a36df6
Record Information
Last Sierra Extract Time | Apr 18, 2024 01:04:30 AM |
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Last File Modification Time | Apr 18, 2024 01:04:47 AM |
Last Grouped Work Modification Time | Apr 25, 2024 02:10:18 AM |
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