Below the edge of darkness : a memoir of exploring light and life in the deep sea
"Edith Widder grew up determined to become a marine biologist. But after complications from a surgery during college caused her to go temporarily blind, she became fascinated by light as well as the power of optimism. Her focus turned to oceanic bioluminescence, a scientific frontier in our last earthly one, and with little promise of funding or employment she took a leap into the darkness. On her first visit to the deep ocean, in an experimental diving suit that took her to a depth of eight hundred feet, she turned off the suit's lights and witnessed breathtaking explosions of bioluminescent activity. Concerns about her career went out the window. She just wanted to know one thing: Why was there so much light down there? Below the Edge of Darkness takes readers deep into our planet's oceans as Widder pursues her questions about one of the most important and widely used forms of communication in nature. In the process, she reveals hidden worlds and a dazzling menagerie of behaviors and animals, from microbes to leviathans, many never-before-seen or, like the legendary Giant Squid, never-before-filmed in its deep-sea lair. Alongside Widder, we experience life-and-death equipment malfunctions and witness breakthroughs in technology and understanding, all of it set against a growing awareness of the deteriorating health of our largest and least understood ecosystem"-- Provided by publisher.
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.
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.
Item details
- ISBN: 9780525509257
- ISBN: 0525509240
- ISBN: 9780525509240
-
Physical Description:
xx, 329 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm
print - Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Random House, [2021]
Contents / Notes
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Formatted Contents Note: | 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. |
Find similar items by subject
Genre: | Biographies. Biographies. |
Currently available copies
- 16 out of 17 copies are currently available at PINES. (Show)
- 2 out of 2 copies are currently available at Athens Regional Library System.
Holds
- 0 current holds on 17 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Library System: Library Branch Name
|
Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Athens Regional Library System: Athens-Clarke County Library |
BIO WIDDER (
Send Text) |
31001004048618 | BIOGRAPHY | Available | |
Athens Regional Library System: Bogart Library |
BIO WIDDER (
Send Text) |
31001006007695 | BIOGRAPHY | Available |