Blue Machine

Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World by Helen Czerski explores the vast, interconnected system of Earth's oceans, illustrating how they function as a single engine powered by sunlight. Czerski delves into the physics and biology that drive ocean currents, weather patterns, and marine life, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the ocean's influence on our planet. 

From the ancient Polynesians who navigated the Pacific by reading waves to the Greenland shark that can live for centuries, Czerski highlights the intricate relationships within the ocean's complex system. She emphasizes the importance of understanding this 'blue machine' to address contemporary environmental challenges. 

About the Author

Helen Czerski is a physicist and oceanographer, as well as a lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department at University College London. She studies the bubbles generated by breaking waves in the ocean to understand their influence on weather and climate. Czerski is also a regular presenter of BBC TV science documentaries and a science columnist for the Wall Street Journal. 

Praise for Blue Machine

"Helen Czerski weaves together physics and biology, history and science, in a beautifully poetic way." – Professor Alice Roberts 

"In Helen Czerski's hands, the mechanical becomes magical. An instant classic." – Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read Water 

"Blue Machine is quite simply one of the best books I have ever read." – Dr. George McGavin, zoologist, entomologist, and broadcaster