The Universe Within

What links the Earth's tilt to our body clocks? How did the creation of the Atlantic Ocean affect childbirth? What does the water inside us have to do with the deepest stretches of space? Humanity's status in the cosmos can seem insignificant. Yet, as Neil Shubin shows, the one place where the universe, solar system and planet merge is inside your body. Exploring the smallest atomic structures and vastest reaches of space, Shubin uncovers a sublime truth: that in every one of us lies the most profound story of all - how we and our world came to be. 'Shubin is not only a distinguished scientist, but a wonderfully lucid and elegant writer.' Oliver Sacks 'Dazzling . . . a magical storyteller . . . an illuminating account of how life on earth is shaped.' Richard Hamblyn, The Times Literary Supplement 'Panoramic, romping . . . carries the reader along on a wave of enthusiasm.' Focus 'Filled with sweeping scientific stories.' New Scientist 'Glorious, uplifting . . . What is special about the book is its sweep, its scope, its panorama.' Wall Street Journal