What differentiates humans from other living beings is our ability to communicate, our complex reasoning, and our use of skilled hands and smart brains to build houses, cities, and societies. We are able to learn. We penetrate into the unknown. We dominate our planet. For thousands of years, we have lived close to animals. As we are gaining a more complete understanding of our physiology, we are observing that we are not so different from them and other life forms. By studying them, we can sharpen our senses, treat diseases, and overcome some of our weaknesses. By observing their unique capabilities, we invent ways to emulate their performances in areas where evolution has helped them excel. Animals have helped us build our human culture and civilization. We still take advantage of them, even push them back into ever more restricted habitats. We are now at risk of forgetting that Sapiens’ only way to thrive, and planet Earth to survive, will be to humbly accept our place in the “shadow of animals.”

This book explains how various animals have adapted to extreme conditions, and why humans need to study animals and should protect them. It helps us to understand how “life on our planet” evolved. It is a popular presentation of the human–animal relationship for curious readers of all ages. It will hopefully stimulate scientific discussions among high school and university students.

Michael Hehenberger holds advanced degrees in physics and quantum chemistry. He spent his professional life in academia (Vienna, Austria; Uppsala, Sweden; and Gainesville, Florida) and industry (Sandvik, IBM). Throughout he focused on computational problems in engineering, computational chemistry and biology, AI, and nanomedicine. His first book Nanomedicine: Science, Business, and Impact covers both the underlying science and the steps needed to take biomedical breakthroughs from concept to patient benefit. His current research interests include “Big Data Analytics and AI,” “Quantum Information and Computing,” and “High Mountain Adaptations in Humans and Animals.”