The Living Clock

The Orchestrator of Biological Rhythms

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Biological Sciences, Human Physiology, Biology
Cover of the book The Living Clock by John D. Palmer, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: John D. Palmer ISBN: 9780190286644
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: March 14, 2002
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: John D. Palmer
ISBN: 9780190286644
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: March 14, 2002
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

From one-celled paramecium to giant blue whales, we all have internal clocks that regulate the rhythms we live by. In The Living Clock, John Palmer, one of the world's leading authorities on these rhythms, takes us on a tour of this broad and multifaceted subject, examining everything from glowing fruit flies to the best cures for jet lag. Palmer has a wonderful sense of humor and an eye for the startling fact. We learn that fiddler crabs--in a lab where there are no time nor tide cues--remain active when low tide would occur and motionless during high tide, the same pattern they follow in their natural habitat. (In fact, you can remove a crab's leg and the leg will keep a tidal rhythm as long as it's kept alive.) Moreover, humans are subject to more than one hundred biological rhythms. Mental acuity peaks in the afternoon, for instance, and our blood pressure peaks at seven in the morning (when most heart attacks occur). The time of day you take medication can affect how well it works. And Palmer shows that when our clocks are thrown off kilter, trouble follows, especially for rotating shift workers--the Bhopal spill, the Chernobyl reactor explosion, and the Three Mile Island accident all happened when new crews began early-hour shifts. No one has discovered exactly how our internal clocks work--Palmer says a Nobel Prize awaits that lucky scientist--but they are no less fascinating for their inexplicable nature. Frequently amusing and always eye-opening, The Living Clock is a treat for everyone curious about the nature of life as well as anyone planning a long jet flight.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

From one-celled paramecium to giant blue whales, we all have internal clocks that regulate the rhythms we live by. In The Living Clock, John Palmer, one of the world's leading authorities on these rhythms, takes us on a tour of this broad and multifaceted subject, examining everything from glowing fruit flies to the best cures for jet lag. Palmer has a wonderful sense of humor and an eye for the startling fact. We learn that fiddler crabs--in a lab where there are no time nor tide cues--remain active when low tide would occur and motionless during high tide, the same pattern they follow in their natural habitat. (In fact, you can remove a crab's leg and the leg will keep a tidal rhythm as long as it's kept alive.) Moreover, humans are subject to more than one hundred biological rhythms. Mental acuity peaks in the afternoon, for instance, and our blood pressure peaks at seven in the morning (when most heart attacks occur). The time of day you take medication can affect how well it works. And Palmer shows that when our clocks are thrown off kilter, trouble follows, especially for rotating shift workers--the Bhopal spill, the Chernobyl reactor explosion, and the Three Mile Island accident all happened when new crews began early-hour shifts. No one has discovered exactly how our internal clocks work--Palmer says a Nobel Prize awaits that lucky scientist--but they are no less fascinating for their inexplicable nature. Frequently amusing and always eye-opening, The Living Clock is a treat for everyone curious about the nature of life as well as anyone planning a long jet flight.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book When Life Strikes the President by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Neuropsychological Assessment in the Age of Evidence-Based Practice by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Musicians in the Making by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Mayo Clinic Gastroenterology and Hepatology Board Review by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Tantric State by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Argument and Persuasion in Descartes' Meditations by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Risk Management in Social Work: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Oil Booms and Business Busts by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Religious Liberties by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book A Diplomatic Revolution by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book The Indian Great Awakening by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Islam in Indonesia: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Expressive Minds and Artistic Creations by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Toeing the Lines by John D. Palmer
Cover of the book Studies in Music with Text by John D. Palmer
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy