The Dark Frontier - by Jeffrey Marlow (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The deep sea is one of our last frontiers. For most of human history, it was a vast, dark, and unknown realm that invoked awe and terror. Now, one thing we do know it is that it is critically important and central to the future of life on this planet. In The Dark Frontier, marine microbiologist and deep sea explorer Jeff Marlow offers a new perspective on the power and beauty of the deep sea. Beginning with the nineteenth century "discovery" that the deep sea was, in fact, teeming with life, to more recent investigations into the microbiology of cold seeps and deep sea vents. Throughout, Marlow explores the ocean's scientific marvels: theories about how life began underwater and how it may hold the key to discovering new life to entire ecosystems that formed around sunk whale carcasses. An engaging narrative journey grounded in Marlow's own research, and vast knowledge of this aquatic underworld, The Dark Frontier's revelations into how life can thrive in even the most remote, unforgiving landscapes expand our understanding of what might be possible elsewhere on earth-and beyond. Marlow reflects, too, on the environmental impact of deep-sea mining. Marlow's work is informed by years of researching the deep sea and hundreds of experts: everyone from deep sea researchers to UN delegates. The Dark Frontier captures the awe and potential of the deep sea-teaching us lessons that bring us into the future-not just for the creatures that live there, but for those of us on the surface as well"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

An awe-inspiring investigation into the hidden world of the deep sea--the most mysterious, unforgiving environment on Earth--whose secrets can radically revise our understanding of life itself and chart our planetary future.

"A brilliant scientist and storyteller, Jeffrey Marlow takes us on a page-turning descent into the deepest mysteries on the planet."--Jack E. Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea

A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR (SO FAR)

The deep sea is our planet's last frontier. For most of human history, it was a vast, unknown realm that invoked awe and terror. And despite how much we've learned, it remains largely unexplored.

In The Dark Frontier, marine microbiologist and explorer Jeffrey Marlow offers a new perspective on the power and beauty of the deep sea, beginning with the nineteenth-century discovery that the ocean's depths were teeming with life and shifting to more recent investigations of the kaleidoscopic ecology of hydrothermal vents, methane seeps, and whale falls. Marlow illuminates the ocean's scientific marvels, including microbes that breathe metal and fish that withstand crushing pressures, as well as theories about how underwater habitats may have been the cradle of life on Earth. He reveals the deep sea's microbial universes, worlds within worlds that have opened new possibilities of survival in extreme environments.

The Dark Frontier is an engaging narrative journey grounded in Marlow's research and wide-ranging knowledge, together with insights from hundreds of experts, from deep-sea scientists to conservationists and UN diplomats. The book considers the twinned forces of exploration and exploitation, shining a light on deep-sea drilling and mining as well as the complexity of governing the high seas and their precious resources.

In this authoritative and accessible account of ocean exploration, Marlow captures the wonder and potential of the deep sea, teaching us lessons that help navigate the future--not just for the remarkable creatures that live there but for those of us on the surface as well.

Review Quotes

"A brilliant scientist and storyteller, Jeffrey Marlow takes us on a page-turning descent into the deepest mysteries on the planet, revealing a world as strange, beautiful, and edifying as it is essential to our uncertain future. Though witness to the farthest reach of our destructive ways, Marlow leaves us with words of hope."--Jack E. Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea

"[A] funny, fascinating, and even-handed new book . . . [that] revels in the fun and fervor of chasing the unknown, while also reminding readers that every discovery as a dark side."-- Science

"A fascinating, even moving, deep dive into the deepest of subjects. As Jeffery Marlow shows us, the ocean floor isn't a bleak wasteland--it's the largest part of our planet, teeming with life and with possibilities for a radically reimagined future. Marlow's book shines a brilliant light on Earth's crucial frontier."--Jason Roberts, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Every Living Thing and A Sense of the World

"Dr. Jeffrey Marlow gives readers a front-row seat and a backstage pass to the vanguard of deep-sea science, at a time when this research has never been more exciting or vital. The Dark Frontier is a meticulous, wide-ranging, and riveting book, and an essential addition to the ocean canon."--Susan Casey, New York Times bestselling author of The Underworld Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean

"This gripping trip to the bottom of the ocean doesn't just explore many of the otherworldly mysteries lurking in a lightless universe;, it is an illuminating peek into something deeper yet - --the nature of life itself."--Dan Egan, New York Times bestselling author of The Death and Life of the Great Lakes

"Jeffrey Marlow goes deep--really deep--beneath the sea to explore a world we can't see and can barely imagine. The Dark Frontier is at once an adventure story, a tale of scientific discovery, and a plea for preserving one of the world's most fascinating and fragile environments."--Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction

"[A] moving debut exploration . . . Marlow's fascination with underwater environments is palpable throughout, as he studies microbes that can exist by metabolizing methane, and discovers hidden ecosystems of strange fish, crustaceans, and worms . . . This is science writing at its finest."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A romantic, illuminating dive into the deep sea and the controversies of exploiting it."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

About the Author

Dr. Jeffrey Marlow is a professor of biology at Boston University. He received his B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis, M.Phil. from Imperial College London, and Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology. He has been named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and is a Fellow of the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society. His journalistic work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Scientific American. He enjoys traveling, trail running, and nurturing his extensive collection of house plants.