What is Life? Where did it come from? Why does it end? In this beautiful and definitive new book, Professor Brian Cox takes us on an incredible journey to discover how a few fundamental laws gave birth to the most complex, diverse and unique force in the Universe - life itself. There are thought to be as many as 100 million different species on Earth - each and every one governed by the same laws. Everything in the Universe, from the smallest microbe to the largest cluster of galaxies, is constructed from the same fundamental building blocks and is subject to the same laws of nature. What is true for a bacterium is true for a blue whale. This is the story of the amazing diversity and adaptability of life told through the fundamental laws that govern it. Through his voyage of discovery, Brian will explain how the astonishing inventiveness of nature came about and uncover the milestones in the epic journey from the origin of life to our own lives. From the vast networks of subterranean freshwater caverns of the Yucatan peninsula to the unique and precious island of Madagascar, Brian will seek out the places where the biggest questions about life may be answered: what is life? Why do we need water and why does life end? Using the latest advances in science as well as the cutting-edge graphics used in The Sunday Times bestsellers Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe, Brian will uncover the secrets of life in the most unexpected locations and in the most stunning detail.

作者简介

布赖恩•考克斯（Brian Cox），大英帝国勋章获得者，粒子物理学家，英国皇家学会研究员，曼彻斯特大学教授，也是地球上最有雄心的实验之一——瑞士的大型强子对撞机中的ATLAS实验的研究人员。对公众而言，他最知名的身份是英国广播公司第二台（BBC 2）广受欢迎的电视系列纪录片《太阳系的奇迹》（Wonders of the Solar System）和《观星指南》（Stargazing Live）的科学主持人。20世纪90年代他曾是英国流行乐队D:Ream的键盘手。

安德鲁•科恩（Andrew Cohen），英国广播公司（BBC）科学栏目组的负责人，也是BBC 2电视系列纪录片《太阳系的奇迹》和《生命的奇迹》（Wonders of Life）的执行制作人。他从事科学传播工作已有17年的时间，制作完成了大量科学纪录片，如《明日世界》（Tomorrow’s World）、《地平线》（Horizon）和《宇宙的奇迹》（Wonders of the Universe）。2005至2010年期间，他是BBC主打科学栏目《地平线》的编剧。他和妻子及三个孩子一起住在伦敦。

译者简介

闻菲，果壳网科学编辑，担纲果壳网“科学人物访谈”，对话《哥德尔、艾舍尔、巴赫——集异璧之大成》作者侯世达、美国头号“科学打假人”迈克尔•舍默、《地球的法则:21世纪地球宣言》作者斯图尔特•布兰德，等等，作品发表于《科技日报》。