Planet Rock Doc

Book excerpt: ¿Dr. Peters packs a wallop of substance into a stylistic economy of words, punctuating her essays with immediacy and rewarding craftsmanship.¿--Gordon Hauptfleisch, Seattle PI; Blogcritics Books Editor ¿Entertaining two-page ruminations on items including lichens, Stephen Hawking, poisonous mushrooms, and the merits of our big three energies: coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. This book¿s conversational tone conveys a kitchen-table wisdom that belies its wicked smarts.¿--ForeWord magazine Passion is meant to be shared, and Dr. Elsa Kirsten Peters, better known as the Rock Doc, regularly conveys her enthusiasm for all things science in her nationally syndicated column. Now the curious geologist has compiled her favorites, along with a few new contributions, into Planet Rock Doc. With her wry sense of humor, personal anecdotes, and knack for explaining the complex in simple terms, Peters stretches far beyond geology to explore a wide range of topics related to natural and applied sciences. In the process, she reflects on the remarkable observations and inventions cultivated by great minds of the past. She comments on current debates, and she lends promise to the future, illuminating cutting-edge research. For easy access, articles are arranged by subject matter--geology and paleontology, energy and engines, food and agriculture, climate change, human health, biology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and education and history. Dr. Peters, a native of rural Washington State, earned her doctorate from the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at Harvard University. She taught undergraduate-level courses for a decade and is the author or co-author of numerous journal articles, as well as several textbooks.