Tullis C. Onstott is professor of geosciences at Princeton University. He lives in Stockton, New Jersey.
The thrilling quest for subsurface life on Earth and other planets
Deep Life takes readers to uncharted regions deep beneath Earth's crust in search of life in extreme environments and reveals how astonishing new discoveries by geomicrobiologists are helping the quest to find life in the solar system.
Tullis Onstott, named one of the 100 most influential people in America by Time magazine, provides an insider's look at the pioneering fieldwork that is shining vital new light on Earth's hidden biology-a thriving subterranean biosphere that scientists once thought to be impossible. Come along on epic descents two miles underground into South African gold mines to experience the challenges that Onstott and his team had to overcome. Join them in their search for microbes in the ancient seabed below the desert floor in the American Southwest, and travel deep beneath the frozen wastelands of the Arctic tundra to discover life as it could exist on Mars.
Blending cutting-edge science with thrilling scientific adventure, Deep Life features rare and unusual encounters with exotic life forms, including a bacterium living off radiation and a hermaphroditic troglodytic worm that has changed our understanding of how complex subsurface life can really be. This unforgettable book takes you to the absolute limits of life-the biotic fringe-where today's scientists hope to discover the very origins of life itself. "Onstott so beautifully conveys his excitement that laypeople and scientists alike will find [Deep Life] a worthwhile read." "Deep Life tackles one of the most mysterious, sexiest questions in science today: Is there life beyond Earth? . . . Onstott's argument is both profound--we can't understand life on other planets without understanding life on our own--and surprising, pleasing any amateur extraterrestrial beep hunter."---Sarah Sloat, Inverse "Extreme environments beneath Earth's surface could well be the crucible where life was forged, and studying the weird creatures that live in such locales could well shed light on how life could endure in Mars' deep crust or Europa's hidden ocean. Geoscientist Tullis C. Onstott brings you along on the hunt."---Alan Boyle, GeekWire "Life can thrive in the most inhospitable places. And finding out just how inhospitable has been the life's work of Tullis Onstott. . . . While rooted in the earth, the study may also help in the quest to find life in the solar system and beyond. This amazing journey takes us from deep in a South African gold mine, to the ancient seabed below a desert floor to travel deep beneath the frozen Arctic tundra." "Tullis Onstott has been at the forefront of the exploration of [the Earth's] subterranean mysteries. If you had to compare him to an iconic figure, I don't think you'd go far wrong seeing him as a microbiologist Indiana Jones, clambering through dimly lit mining tunnels far below the surface, sampling tubes in hand. . . . Along the way, he addresses some of the deepest questions--if you'll excuse the pun--in modern biology. . . . [This book] offers great insights for science historians or students in the discipline."---Lewis Dartnell, Times Higher Education "Deep Life is both gripping and powerful in its immediacy, so much so that no matter your background, if you have any concern for the future of this planet and its place in the universe, it is well worth spending some time considering the bearing that Onstott's propositions and implications might have on your own future." "Onstott takes us on a journey to discover and understand the limits of life beneath the surface of our planet. . . . The author, a brilliant geomicrobiologist, shares his passion for this relatively new field of research. It is difficult to ignore the infectious enthusiasm that permeates the narrative."---Lisa Kaaki, Arab News "The real strength of this book is an almo
