Description
In this riveting work of scientific history, two brilliant yet deeply flawed chemists discover how to transform the nitrogen in ordinary air into fertilizer—a breakthrough that dramatically expands the world’s food supply and reshapes modern civilization. Their invention fuels industrial growth and immense fortunes, while also contributing to the development of chemical warfare and the destructive power of the modern state. Set against the upheavals of the early twentieth century, the book explores ambition, genius, moral compromise, and the far-reaching consequences of scientific progress. Thomas Hager combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling to reveal how an extraordinary triumph of chemistry carried both the promise of abundance and the shadow of catastrophe.
Available Editions
paperback
Three Rivers Press
Published Aug 18, 2009
336 pages
ISBN: 9780307351791
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Details
First Published
2008
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager.