Ends of the Earth: Journeys to the Polar Regions in Search of Life, the Cosmos, and our Future
Understanding the polar regions is becoming increasingly important with the current trends of polar ice melting and sea level rise. In addition to their environmental importance, the Arctic and Antarctic have also attracted strong geopolitical interest in terms of trade routes, minerals, oil and gas resources, and territorial disputes.
In this book, Neil Shubin explores the many ways in which ice has shaped our planet and influenced life and human civilisation. Rather than focusing only on the science of ice movement, he connects together stories of exploration, life in extreme environments, meteorites, palaeoclimate and the geological history preserved beneath the ice.
One of the strengths of the book is the way it beautifully illustrates the adaptive capacity of life under extreme conditions. Shubin describes the lifecycle of the woolly bear caterpillar, the antifreeze proteins developed naturally by insects and fishes, and the lifestyle of the Inuit people of the Arctic. He also discusses discoveries of tardigrades in Lake Mercer, bacteria at Blood Falls and species hidden in lakes buried beneath Antarctic ice for centuries. Such studies of life in extreme conditions encourage readers to think about the possibility of life on icy moons in the Solar System, such as Europa and Enceladus.
Ends of the Earth also shows how the polar regions have contributed to our understanding of Earth and planetary history. Accounts of meteorite searches in Antarctica and the Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) programme explain how these collections have added to our knowledge of the early Solar System. Fossils discovered in both polar regions, including Glossopteris in Antarctica, Tiktaalik roseae in the Canadian Arctic and dinosaur footprints in Greenland, point to the rich geological history preserved in landmasses that are now covered by ice.
Shubin successfully connects readers with the history, life, culture and science of the polar regions. More importantly, he shows how closely ice is interconnected with the Earth system and human civilisation. This book is a useful introduction for anyone interested in understanding the importance of the Arctic and Antarctic regions in our changing world.
Reviewed by Rajendran Valli Divya
DETAILS
BY: Neil Shubin (2025). Oneworld, 288 pp.
ISBN: 9781836432029
PRICE: £10.99, available from Geoscientist’s bookshop
