Transformer: The Deep Chemistry of Life and Death

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A renowned biochemist explores the Krebs cycle and the origins of life, addressing profound questions about existence and mortality. While biology has long focused on genetic information, this inquiry emphasizes the significance of our living metabolic network, a legacy passed through generations back to life's inception. The author reveals a scientific renaissance regarding how simple chemistry underpins both life and death. As a leading researcher, he investigates the enduring enigma of the Krebs cycle, a "perfect circle" central to metabolism, which remains elusive even after eighty years. This work chronicles his quest to uncover the Krebs cycle's deeper meaning and its dual role in life and death. The narrative delves into the intricate processes within our cells, where hydrogen atoms are extracted from food and consumed by oxygen. This cycle, in reverse, also produced the essential chemical building blocks for life. The text poses intriguing questions about how the same pathway can create and destroy, and what insights it may offer into aging and consciousness. By connecting the story of our planet to that of our cells, the author illuminates what shapes our existence and our link to life's origins. With a talent for making complex research accessible, this book is essential for anyone intrigued by biology's mysteries, emphasizing that life fundamentally stems from chemical processes.