A Planet of Viruses

Viruses are the smallest creatures known to science, yet under their control is our entire planet. Everyone knows the viruses that cause colds and flu; at the same time, there are viruses capable of causing the most bizarre diseases—for example, when tree-like growths develop on a person’s skin. Viruses are not just part of our lives: the human genome contains more genetic material from viruses than our own genes. Meanwhile, scientists continue to discover viruses everywhere—in the soil, in the ocean, even in caves thousands of meters deep. This amazing audiobook will introduce you to the hidden world in which all of us live. Drawing on the newest research, popular science journalist Carl Zimmer explains how viruses steer our lives and the biosphere, how they gave an impetus to the development of the first forms of life on Earth, and how they will shape our future.