Penguin De Vonk van Het Leven: Elektriciteit in Het Lichaam

From before birth to the last breath we draw, electricity underpins every facet of life. The Spark of Life reveals how ion channels generate the electrical signals in our cells, connecting processes from consciousness to sexual attraction, infection defense to the beating of the heart. Frances Ashcroft guides readers with wit and clarity through why these tiny channels matter, making complex science accessible and engaging for curious minds. The book presents a broad view of how electricity shapes who we are, and why we can die of fright, how drugs work, and why chillies taste hot. Paginas: 352; Editie: Illustrated hardcover and paperback editions.

Frances Ashcroft is Professor of Physiology at the University of Oxford and Director of OXION, a consortium studying ion channels. Her research focuses on how rising blood sugar stimulates insulin release and what goes wrong in diabetes. She has received numerous prizes for her work, including the L'Oreal/UNESCO 2012 Women in Science award and the Lewis Thomas Prize for Science Writing for The Spark of Life.

Her writing blends accessible narrative with precise science, offering a compelling portrait of the “heroes” of biology—ion channels—and why their function is central to human life.

Kenmerken

• Explains ion channels and cellular electrical signals
• Links electricity to birth, emotion, and heartbeats
• Includes fright, drugs, and spicy peppers as examples
• Clear, engaging, accessible science writing
• Auteur: Frances Ashcroft, op Oxford, director OXION
• Prijzen en erkenning voor haar wetenschappelijk werk