The Age of Living Machines: How Biology Will Build the Next Technology Revolution

Hockfield, president emerita at MIT, is unreservedly optimistic about the future in this data-rich yet accessibly written exploration of potential technological advances stemming from the merging of biology and technology. A fervent proponent of breaking down barriers between academic fields, she describes the research covered in the book as crossing “boundaries between disciplines without any celebration or permission,” which is “critical to the rapid translation of new ideas from the lab to the marketplace.” Hockfield reports on five dramatic innovations that might indeed have transformative impact: using viruses to build better and more environmentally friendly batteries; developing cheap, reusable water purification systems employing naturally occurring proteins; diagnosing and combating cancer with nanoparticles; integrating neurobiological advances with evolving computer technology to build better prostheses for amputees and paralyzed people; and combining genetics with integrated production technology to accelerate new high-yield crop growth. Along the way, Hockfield clearly and concisely details the basics of, respectively, nucleic acids, protein structure and function, oncology, neuroscience, and genetics. Hockfield does a superb job of sharing the excitement and challenges associated with scientific investigation, while making the prospect of an impending “era of unprecedented innovation and prosperity” seem that much more plausible. (May)