Laurie Lindop

Laurie Lindop's book details the lives and accomplishments of ten scientists and doctors who have overcome great obstacles to pursue their dreams. These courageous women defied the odds to become some of the greatest scientific minds of the last 50 years. Their tenacity and vision is evident in their stories: a black girl who grew up in the heart of the civil rights era to become a brilliant scientist, astronaut, and philanthropist, or a Chinese girl who pursued education in her country at a time when women were not viewed equally with men, on any level. The same girl came to America to study as her country was invaded by Japanese forces, and she eventually contributed to the Manhattan Project and multiple medical research breakthroughs. She was awarded the highest scientific honor in the country, the National Medal of Science.… (meer)

This is one of the best nonfiction books I've read the whole year.

The book has everything, exploration, excitement, discovery, breakthroughs on how many caves formed, how much of life on earth began, why early life on Mars is no longer speculation but likely, and many other topics and ideas backed up with fact and peer-reviewed science.

The author highlights new scientific discoveries in geologic processes and evolutionary biology with chapters that follow the trips of recent discoverers as they see things that do not fit into current knowledge and as they collect data to test their new ideas, then as they pull in other science experts to ais in working out the truth.

Most of the new discoveries discussed in this book were made by studying geologic processes and previously unknown species in unique caves, hence the title "Cave Slueths"

As a working geologist, I recognize the major discovery of the contribution of sulphur metaboizing organisms in creating sulphuric acid and hence cave systems and smaller voids as a major milestone. These organisms have played a major role in providing the pathways for west Texas oil to flow from its source to wells and ultimately to refineries and eventually, after refining, to our gas tanks.

Some of the research is currently coming fromRomanian and Mexican caves but some from right here in a Texas cave.

As an amateaur astronomer, once helping asteroid professionals, I recognize the research on microbes in caves where use of light and oxygen are not available, as fundamental to understanding how life evolved here on earth.

The chapter on cave life far back in a Bahama underwater cave is exciting. Imagine popping out of the water a mile back in a flooded totally dark cave to see an air-filed cave chamber completed before the last ice age and harbouring living pre-ice age life today, and in total darkness.

The discoveries followed in this book and the maner in which they are presented make this book one of the best I've read.

The author includes a very full list of where to find further reading on each topic and each researcher mentioned. There is also an index.… (meer)