Oxygen: The Molecule that Made the World

By Nick Lane

Categories: Science & Math

Oxygen (2002) is Nick Lane's book about the role of oxygen in the history of life. He traces how the gas built up in the atmosphere and how it made complex life possible. He also looks at its harmful side, the free radicals that damage cells, and links them to aging and disease, questioning the popular faith in antioxidant supplements.

Recommended by 1 person

• Bill Gates: “I still find the creation of life and the way the brain works the most fascinating areas. Nick Lane has some great books exploring what we know about how life started.”