September 1, 2025
Science writer Peter Brannen has released a new book that takes readers on a sweeping journey through the history of carbon dioxide, showing how this single molecule has shaped life on Earth—and how it now poses one of the greatest threats to humanity’s future.
In The Story of CO₂ Is the Story of Everything, Brannen describes carbon dioxide not just as a pollutant or a climate villain, but as a force central to Earth’s evolution. From ancient oceans and mass extinctions to the rise of forests and mammals, CO₂ has been a driver of both destruction and renewal.
Brannen’s storytelling blends science, history, and urgent commentary. He highlights how natural shifts in CO₂ levels once triggered ice ages and warming periods that lasted millions of years—changes that unfolded at a pace far slower than what human activity is causing today. The contrast underscores the gravity of the current climate crisis, with atmospheric carbon increasing at unprecedented speed due to the burning of fossil fuels.
Critics have praised the book for its vivid writing and clear explanations of complex science. Many note that Brannen’s gift lies in making geological time scales accessible while linking them directly to the challenges of the present. His narrative paints CO₂ as both life-giver and potential life-taker, reminding readers that humanity is now altering a system that has governed Earth for eons.
Ultimately, The Story of CO₂ is more than a scientific account—it’s a call to reflection. Brannen suggests that by looking back at the long arc of Earth’s history, society can better understand the consequences of its choices today and the responsibility it holds for the future.
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