Below the edge of darkness : a memoir of exploring light and life in the deep sea
Widder, Edith2021
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Edith Widder grew up wanting to become a marine biologist. But after complications from surgery caused her to go temporarily blind while at university, she became fascinated by light, and her focus turned to bioluminescence. On her first visit to the deep ocean, in an experimental diving suit that took her to a depth of 250 metres, she turned off the suit's lights and witnessed breathtaking explosions of bioluminescent activity. Why was there so much light down there? Below the Edge of Darkness takes readers deep into the mysteries of the oceans as Widder investigates one of nature's most widely used forms of communication. She reveals hidden worlds and a dazzling menagerie of creatures, from microbes to leviathans--many never before seen or, like the giant squid, never before filmed. Alongside Widder, we experience life-and-death equipment malfunctions, and breakthroughs in technology and understanding, set against a growing awareness of the deterioration of the world's largest and least understood ecosystem. This engaging memoir, imbued with optimism and a sense of wonder, is an adventure story as well as a science story. Edith Widder shows us how exploration is the key to conserving the oceans--and our future on this planet.
Main title:
Author:
Widder, Edith, author
Imprint:
Melbourne, Australia : Text Publishing, 2021.©2021
Collation:
xx, 329 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : colour illustrations ; 24 cm.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents:
Introduction: A different light -- PART 1. Deep Seeing. Seeing -- Fiat lux -- First flash -- The stars below -- Strange illumination -- A bioluminescent minefield -- Seas sowed with fire -- PART 2. To Know the Dark. Glorious puzzles -- Stories in the dark -- Plan B -- The language of light -- PART 3. Here Be Dragons. The edge of the map -- The Kraken revealed -- Talking to cannibals -- Epilogue: A case for optimism.
ISBN:
97819223305749781922330574
Dewey class:
551.46092B551.46
Language:
English
Subject:
Widder, EdithWomen marine biologists -- United States -- BiographyMarine biologists -- United States -- BiographyMarine scientists -- United States -- BiographyOceanographers -- United States -- BiographyBioluminescenceBioluminescence -- ResearchUnderwater explorationDeep-sea biology -- Environmental aspectsAutobiographies
BRN:
480349
More Information:
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton Library | Adult Non Fiction - Biography | 551.46 WID | Available |