Although precise statistics are not available, it has been estimated that between 30 and 40% of the world’s population is afflicted with some form of allergy. Moreover, the number of allergy sufferers is continuing to rise. And Millions of people are unfortunately affected to a degree severe enough to have a major impact on their health. This book sets out to assemble what is known about allergies: their history, diagnosis, treatment and what they may reveal about emerging human susceptibilities in an ever-changing world.
The author of this book, Chris Impey, is a University Distinguished Professor of astronomy based at the University of Arizona, US, and has written several books on a variety of astronomical themes. Here he takes his cue from the reasoning that, as our planet is suffering from relentless despoliation, it is timely to explore options for an eventual escape from our escalating predicament.
There are three species of orangutan, two of gorilla, two of chimpanzee, and many more in most mammalian genera. We humans, however, unless we agree to join the chimpanzees, are the only species of our kind, alone in the genus Homo, and the only surviving species with our characteristic features since the Denisovans and Neanderthals disappeared and were soaked up by our burgeoning population.