On the Edge of the Possible: The Science of Survival

If extreme situations used to be the domain of a few, now millions are drawn to extremes. But how many know how physiological mechanisms ensure the functioning of a living organism in the harshest and most unsuitable conditions for its existence? In heat and cold, on mountain heights where there is almost no air to breathe, and in ocean depths where blood "boils"? All this is familiar to the author of the book from personal experience. One of the most outstanding women scientists in the world, Frances Ashcroft, has climbed Kilimanjaro and scuba dived, undergone a kind of "baptism by fire" in a hot Japanese bath, and even saved a person's life who found themselves in icy water. Her book is not only an engaging read and a scientific essay but also a practical guide to survival. It may well help you in moments of utmost tension - whether it’s about sports, rides, or the fight for life. . . .