THE LAST UNEXPLORED PLACE ON EARTH

A tribute to the submersible Alvin, which has played an important role in undersea research for over a half century.

In its thousands of dives, the durable vessel, launched in 1964, has been attacked by swordfish, flooded and recovered, and used to search for a lost hydrogen bomb. Alvin has also carried scientists to uniquely remote edges of continental plates for first encounters with hydrothermal vents, explored the ruins of the Titanic and the devastation of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and made possible the discovery of uncounted new species of deep-sea life. After setting the stage with properly arresting references to “creepy creatures with glowing tentacles and cruel fangs,” Brown retraces Alvin’s storied career with frequent references to oral histories and interviews with many pilots and passengers. Notably, she covers some of the women who had to shoulder their way past sexist practices and attitudes. While briefly addressing the general challenges of spending long hours at deadly depths in cramped quarters (with the nearest bathroom miles away), she offers vivid impressions of the exhilarating rewards: the excitement of plunging into the deep’s unexplored reaches, where any moment could bring some fresh new biological or geophysical discovery. And if the photos are small and sparse, sidebars include simple hands-on experiments and “Alvin Facts,” plus in-depth resource notes to compensate. “Pretty neat!” as the author puts it. Readers will agree.

Neat indeed, and fascinating besides.