The Deep Hot Biosphere: The Myth of Fossil Fuels Softcover reprint of Edition

by Thomas Gold (Author), Freeman Dyson (Foreword)

90 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0387952536

ISBN-10: 0387952535

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This book sets forth a set of truly controversial and astonishing theories: First, it proposes that below the surface of the earth is a biosphere of greater mass and volume than the biosphere the total sum of living things on our planet's continents and in its oceans. Second, it proposes that the inhabitants of this subterranean biosphere are not plants or animals as we know them, but heat-loving bacteria that survive on a diet consisting solely of hydrocarbons that is, natural gas and petroleum. And third and perhaps most heretically, the book advances the stunning idea that most hydrocarbons on Earth are not the byproduct of biological debris ("fossil fuels"), but were a common constituent of the materials from which the earth itself was formed some 4.5 billion years ago.
The implications are astounding. The theory proposes answers to often-asked questions: Is the deep hot biosphere where life originated, and do Mars and other seemingly barren planets contain deep biospheres? Even more provocatively, is it possible that there is an enormous store of hydrocarbons upwelling from deep within the earth that can provide us with abundant supplies of gas and petroleum?
However far-fetched these ideas seem, they are supported by a growing body of evidence, and by the indisputable stature and seriousness Gold brings to any scientific debate. In this book we see a brilliant and boldly original thinker, increasingly a rarity in modern science, as he develops potentially revolutionary ideas about how our world works.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

"always original, always important, usually controversial, and usually right"
- FROM THE FOREWORD BY FREEMAN DYSON

"an extraordinary theory from one of the world's most original minds."
- NIGEL HAWKES, THE TIMES, LONDON

"The leading supporter of the abiotic theory in the U.S. is Prof. Thomas Gold of Cornell. His 1999 book, The Deep Hot Biosphere (Springer-Verlag) is a thorough discussion of the issues. It is based in part on research financed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Among prominent scientists whose work supports the abiotic theory are Jean Whelan of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Mahlon Kennicutt of Texas A&M University, and J.F Kenny of the Gas Resources Corporation."
- http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=4092

"There is much to be said about this important book … . Gold exhibits the irreversible and universal genius that we recognize in Aristotle and Leonardo da Vinci. … The versatility and range of knowledge exhibited is remarkable. … The Deep Hot Biosphere is a highly interesting and important book; it should be required reading for every geology student." (David Deming, Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 17 (2), 2003)

"Thomas Gold is a physicist who is not afraid of controversy. … His big new theory … is that oil and natural gas are produced by geology and chemistry of the hot deep layers below the Earth’s surface … . The book is the best kind of science writing: contentious and passionate, with all the evidence there for you to weigh up." (New Scientist, August, 2001)

About the Author

Thomas Gold is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and an Emeritus Professor of Physics at Cornell University. Regarded as one of the most creative and wide-ranging scientists of his generation, he has taught at Cambridge University and Harvard, and for 20 years was the Director of the Cornell Center for Radiophysics and Space Research.

Paperback: 243 pages
Publisher: Copernicus; Softcover reprint of edition (May 18, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0387952535
ISBN-13: 978-0387952536
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.6 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 90 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #27 in Books > Science & Math > Earth Sciences > Geophysics
- #37 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Energy Production & Extraction > Fossil Fuels > Petroleum
- #87 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Biology & Life Sciences > Ecology

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Sue

An alternate explanation of the formation of hydrocarbons in the earth

August 2, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I found this an eye opening book about where 'fossil fuels' come from. He challenges the theory that hydrocarbons began with plant and animal life long ago on the surface that migrated deep into the earth's crust, with the theory that hydrocarbons are actually from the formation of the earth some 4 billion years ago and these hydrocarbons, including coal and natural gas, are interchangeable at the pressures below 10 kilometers deep. The earth vents this as methane from deep in the earth's crust and that leads to the formation of crude oil and coal in the upper layers of the crust as it cools and the pressure is less. To explain the observed facts from NASA and core analysis from oil drilling and observations of life in methane vents in the ocean at depth, requires the theory that there is a biosphere of methane consuming micro-organisms that derive energy from this natural source and may be the where life began.
He presents the argument in a well written text that should stimulate further study of life at depths in the earth and may challenge all our concepts of hydrocarbons, global warming, energy policy, as well as earthquake. As he points out, there is no proof of the theory of hydrocarbons as a fossil fuel. The question is whether his theory can be proved. That has a lot of implications in world politics. It is a good read and well thought out. Whether the theory will be ultimately accepted remains to be seen.

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Matt Verdu

Gold's Love Oil

July 18, 2004

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Multinational oil companies use microbes that feed on oil to break up oil spills by digesting oil. Evidently the fossil fuel myth is just for public consumption. Gold tells us in this book that Vietnam's White Tiger oil field is producing oil from basement rock, and that hundreds of holes have been drilled down to oil and gas found in basement rock in Russia(Tatarstan), Canadian Shield, and Swedish Siljan Shield.
Even if it is at this time difficult to produce oil or gas from basement rock in most instances, due to the depth of wells, the discovery of oil welling up from below sedimentary rock frees us from the fossil fuel myth. Reserve calculations for oil and gas fields are based on the false assumption that those resources are fixed pockets of fossil fuel, rather than waystations for oil and gas welling up from below. We can stop cannibalizing each other for oil according to the fossil fuel propaganda, and we should not allow gasoline to be priced as if in blood.
Fascinating reading...microbes freeing oxygen from iron oxide(leaving magnetite, marking accessible oil for us) so they can oxidize petroleum as food, cells surviving at temperatures high enough to make steam because steam cannot form at such pressure.

12 people found this helpful13 people found this helpful

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Dakini

Great book

June 12, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a great book by a great thinker, who allows both scientific and non-scientific readers alike to be inspired to also think for themselves.
Having worked myself on a geological project that had no as yet scientifically acceptable explanation, I contacted Thomas Gold in the 90's (whom I did not know at the time was a Nobel Laureate or author) and we exchanged information about identical features in both of our respective drill campaigns in the center of large terrestrial meteorite impact structures.
It was not until this year, after getting a Kindle, that I found this book and could read it. Having also acquired oil and gas leases over granitic terrain in the past, and having also scratched my head considerably over puzzles such as the ubiquitous graphite in metamorphic intrusive terrains, it was with great interest and sometimes a sense of shared experience that I read this book. Although it was strange reading about an outsider's (non-geologist) reasoning and observational processes about hydrocarbons in rock and the origin of life, Thomas Gold has all the instincts of a good field geologist who uses his brain and scientific education to imagine the history of the earth.
Notwithstanding the advances in understanding and analytical techniques that have happened since this book was published, many of the same questions remain unanswered. His observations remain as important today, and his reasoning is as valid. This is a very entertaining book for any scientist or person interested in the world we inhabit, and inspires us all to further research endeavors.

2 people found this helpful3 people found this helpful

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Cory Brickner

Myth Busting and Extremely Fascinating!

June 30, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

"Fossil Fuel" is a term originated over a century ago. So much has changed since then, namely the progression of science and technology related to the field. This is a wonderful myth-busting read that includes conclusions from scientific method based experiments and educated hypotheses that have yet to be tested.

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SakeSamurai

Interesting perspective

July 7, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

When collecting information it is always good to read all perspectives...sometimes they offer perspectives that would otherwise go uninvestigated.

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John E. Entwistle

Is Oil Really Dead Dinosaurs

March 21, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Very interesting book from a distinguished researcher that presents an alternate view of where oil comes from.

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C. Schwartz

Great Book about so called "Fossil Fuels"

June 24, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book provides a good starting place for the exploration of the myths about the original
formation of the materials commonly called "Fossil Fuels", that is petroleum and
black coal. The change of assumptions discussed here alters many things, including the understanding
of the geo-politics of oil and energy. Gold is a smart cookie and after you read the book
you will see that an open minded astronomer would be a logical candidate to understand
and develop this theory. New only to many western minds. The Russians have worked on this
for a long time and their knowledge was the seed germ for Gold's work here. Worth the time to read. dxr

6 people found this helpful7 people found this helpful

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johnb

Five Stars

May 28, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Very interesting theory

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