Author:The European Space Agency
In 2008, Europe’s first space laboratory was launched to the International Space Station. Ten years later, the Columbus laboratory is still circling 400 km above our heads at 28,800 km/h, providing scientists a place to run out-of-this-world experiments on everything from cold plasma technology that will destroy unwanted odours to enzymes that may slow the ageing process.
To celebrate a decade of European science and technology in space this stunning book recounts the story of the Columbus laboratory from vision to mission, revealing everything from the daily operations that keep it humming, to the cutting-edge science that takes place inside.
Richly illustrated with graphics and statistics of life and research in space as well as full-colour photos, Columbus in Space offers a never-seen-before glimpse into the laboratory at the forefront of humanity’s exploration of our Universe -- Europe's space in space.
Columbus was my home in space, a little piece of Europe on the International Space Station
—— ESA Astronaut Thomas PesquetColumbus is without a doubt a fantastic technological achievement -- a shining star of European cooperation!
—— ESA astronaut Thomas ReiterAny chance to fly in space is a rare privilege. But it was even more special to be a part of the crew that delivered the Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station
—— NASA astronaut Stan LoveThe technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are extraordinary. Leadership has to be equally extraordinary to manage the complexities of systemic change
—— Eric Schmidt , Technical Advisor, Alphabet, USAThis book is essential for gaining a perspective on some of the critical challenges that rapid technological change poses to us all: ensuring the wellbeing of societies, understanding the evolving role of governments, and rethinking how the global economy will work in the 21st century
—— Roberto Azevêdo , Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO), GenevaThe World Economic Forum shows us that improving the state of the world will mean seriously thinking about, and empowering, all of those whose lives are transformed by technologies
—— Peter Maurer , President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), GenevaProsperity with technology means defending the rights of women on the frontline of change, defending the dignity of work for all workers and improving working conditions around the world. A Fourth Industrial Revolution that can do that would benefit us all
—— Sharan Burrow , General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), BrusselsThe Fourth Industrial Revolution is being felt profoundly around the world. Chapter by chapter, special insights from some of the best minds from the World Economic Forum's community show just where leadership focus is needed
—— Luis Alberto Moreno , President, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington DCThe title says it all. Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution emphasizes the modern imperative to shape a development model that dramatically reduces our current unsustainable footprint on the planet, as a critical foundation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to succeed. Or there won't be a fifth
—— Marco Lambertini , Director-General, WWF International, SwitzerlandThe challenge is clear: if we want to create technologies which benefit us all, and help us create more just and inclusive societies, we need to ensure that the values of human dignity and equality become a core design and use principle
—— Shalil Shetty , Secretary-General, Amnesty International, United KingdomMeticulously researched and carefully crafted . . . The Vaccine Race, is an enlightening telling of the development of vaccines in the mid-20th century. . . . an intelligent and entertaining tome . . . [and] a comprehensive portrait of the many issues faced in the race to develop vaccines.
—— ScienceExplains complex science in methodical detail.
—— Mail on SundayExcellent... an important story, well told
—— The ScotsmanThe Vaccine Race is an important read—for scientists, politicians, physicians, parents and everyone interested in how the world of medical research works... it is so important to read this book, to see how science works and how politics can and does interfere with what science does best and what is best for us.
—— Huffington PostAn exemplary piece of medical journalism, and Wadman makes strikingly clear the human costs of medical developments as well as the roles of politics and economics.
—— Publishers WeeklyWadman does a superb job of making the technical comprehensible to the lay reader and, more importantly, makes the science come to life by honing in on the brilliant men and women who were driven to create new, life-saving vaccines... While the science is fascinating, the foibles of the main characters are what keep the reader gripped
—— Globe and MailThis is a story about the war against disease - a war without end - and the development of enormously important vaccines, but in telling that story, in showing how science works, Meredith Wadman reveals much more. Like all wars, that story includes heroism, risk-taking, persistence and fighting against the odds, and, like all wars, that story also includes politics, obtuseness, bureaucracy, and fights over money. It's very well-written and does not oversimplify yet explains clearly even the purely scientific parts of the story. In short, I loved this book.
—— John M. Barry, New York Times bestselling author of The Great InfluenzaReads like a good detective novel... Wadman’s great strength, in the end, is her uncanny ability to weave the multiple strands of a complicated story into a coherent narrative.
—— David Oshinsky, author of the Pulizer-prize-winning Polio - An American StoryRivalries and shenanigans abound in Wadman’s complex story... An important story well told
—— Kirkus ReviewsWadman tells the inspiring, and sometimes murky, story of the battle to protect the world from viral disease.
—— Daily MailDazzling... There is nothing about Gene that is less than nuanced.
—— Sathnam Sanghera , The TimesA magnificent synthesis of the science of life, and forces all to confront the essence of that science as well as the ethical and philosophical challenges to our conception of what constitutes being human
—— Paul Berg, winner of the Nobel Prize in ChemistryWise and lucid...excellent
—— Andrew Marr , BBC Radio 4 Start the WeekA tourist guide to the new Africa, the human genome… Mukherjee gives an exhaustive account of the development of the modern science of inheritance… Mukherjee does a good job of cutting away the web of ambiguity and complexity’
—— Steve Jones , New StatesmanWritten with the rollicking enthusiasm of sports journalism… Mukherjee has an ear for his subject’s rhetorical brilliance.
—— Andrew Solomon , Guardian WeeklyMeticulous… Carefully constructed, deliberate prose.
—— Sumit Paul-Choudary , Literary ReviewMakes a compelling case that our ability to harness the medical benefits of genomic science while avoiding its hazards promises to be among the defining challenges of the 21st century.
—— Andrew Ward , Financial TimesMukherjee has done readers an admirable service, by turning one of the most important scientific sagas – arguably the most important – in history into a tale that is too good not to know
—— Globe and MailRather wonderful book… All-encompassing and eye-opening and moving and amusing, at times, and endlessly fascinating and truly brilliant… As long as intelligent, empathetic, thoughtful people like himself are to the forefront, it should turn out alright.
—— Darragh McManus , Irish IndependnetAn accessible and beautifully written overview of the complex field of genetics by the Indian-born doctor. It’s compellingly personal and provocative, too.
—— TelegraphMukherjee views his subject panoptically from a great and clarifying height, yet also intimately.
—— James Gleick , Scotland on SundayDr Mukherjee uses personal experience to particularly good effect… He writes tenderly.
—— The Economist[A] Magisterial historical survey.
—— Philip Ball , Chemistry WorldMukherjee has a gift for making gripping, vivid narrative out of the cataclysmic but largely invisible drama of molecular biology.
—— Lev Grossman , Time MagazineCompelling
—— Stuart Ritchie , SpectatorFascinating, complex and accessible.
—— Anna Carey , Irish TimesIntimate, insider’s account of the role that genetics.
—— Nilanjana Roy , Financial TimesA tourist guide to the twenty-first century’s uncharted continent, the human genome... Gives a full and lively account of the development of the subject... He has talked to many of the main players and gives deep insights into their moments of discovery... Mukherjee does a good job of cutting away the web of ambiguity and complexity that scientists have woven.
—— Steve Jones , New StatesmanA daring and highly personal voyage into the future of genetic research
—— VogueThe Gene’s dominant traits are historical breadth, clinical compassion, and Mukherjee’s characteristic graceful style… Mukherjee writes eloquently
—— Nathaniel Comfort , AtlanticA fine read, with many fine stories.
—— David McConnell , Irish Times[It is] accessible and beautifully written… It’s compellingly personal and provocative, too.
—— Daily TelegraphThe Gene is a staggeringly impressive piece of writing… [It] takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of genetics… Written with a clarity that brings the most complex concepts to life… An accessible, gripping and thought-provoking read. In short, this book is a masterpiece and you should read it.
—— Jamie Durrani , Chemistry WorldAn essential read.
—— Mail on SundayInspiring and tremendously evocative
—— San Francisco ChronicleA fascinating read
—— Hugh JackmanYou may think this book is not for you. Thing again… My only caution would be not to recommend it to too many people… So whether you’re a teacher or parent attempting to inspire…or you simply want an erudite anecdote, this book is for you. It’s a dazzling example of scientific story-telling and definitely my book of the year.
—— Cath Murray , School's WeekAn epic 150-year, 500-plus page journey of genetic discovery… [An] excellent and authoritative account.
—— Charalambos Kyriacou , Times Higher EducationThis is a brilliantly readable celebration of the science and scientists who have transformed out understanding of what it means to be human.
—— Nick Rennison , Daily MailThe Gene is a truly impressive achievement… Mukherjee has created a masterwork of the history of the gene and its study. In this popular science book, scientist and non-scientist readers alike will feel they have a true understanding of the history, biology and ethics of genetics.
—— Bio NewsHe deftly lays out a history of the gene… One of the great science books of the decade with an engagingly enthusiastic personality at its heart.
—— Saga Magazine[A]superbly written tale.
—— Stephen Meyler , RTE GuideMukherjee writes with clarity and passion… This should prove a fascinating read for anyone interested in understanding how far the study of the gene has taken us, particularly with respect to medicine, and where the future may lie.
—— Emma McConnell , Pharmaceutical JournalAmbitious and honest, The Gene sheds light on both our past and future.
—— Kitty Knowles , MemoMukherjee’s text brims with potential… Surely The Gene has to be the new bible for a new generation of aspiring biologists, biochemists and, frankly, thinking people? So whether you’re a teacher or parent attempting to inspire a reluctant teen to get excited about science, or you simply want an erudite anecdote, this book is for you. It’s a dazzling example of scientific story-telling, and definitely my book of the year.
—— School's WeekIf you want a good overview of the history of the gene, you can’t go wrong starting here.
—— Paul Cheney , NudgeA provocative and engaging [read].
—— Independent NurseMukherjee’s prose tends to be lavish, but this befits the weighty topic, and his explanatory style is clear yet enveloping… Compelling scientific and medical storytelling… A spectacular effort from an author I hopes has plenty more tales to tell.
—— Euan Ashley , LancetAn essential guide to biology.
—— Gentleman's Journal, Book of the YearA brilliant, chunky, study of genes.
—— William Leith , Evening StandardThis book captures the progression from that intuitive sense of genetics to its birth as a veritable science and, for better or for worse, its evolution into a powerful tool… The book ends not with a conclusion, but with a feeling of anticipation… In many ways, The Gene is a call for caution and for a thoughtful consideration of the possibilities that progress may bring… When genes become tools, what will those tools be used for? As we try to answer that question, Mukherjee’s book asks us to carefully look back before we continue to move forward
—— Claire McDaniel & Daniel Marchalik , British Medical JournalA comprehensive – and gripping – history of the gene
—— Emma Finamore , Memo