Excerpt from What Is Life?The author's answer to the question What is Life? Purports to be based on the facts of modern atomic physics. The first query that will naturally occur to the serious reader is in regard to the author's qualifications in the field of physics. To this I would say that her discussion of modern atomic physics is accurate, well balanced and worth read ing for its own sake. The second query in the reader's mind will refer to her knowledge of biologi cal, or life, processes. This I am not qualified to answer, but I can testify to having read her ex position of such matters with much interest and admiration Of her evident knowledge of this field.The answer to the question What is Life? Is essentially found in the hypothesis that protons and electrons, in addition to forming by their various known combinations the ninety-two kinds Of atoms, are also able to unite in combinations of a type as yet undiscovered and which are the active or essential ingredients Of living matter. These so called Z elements combine in specific ways with the ordinary known chemical elements to form living matter. Living matter is thus a dual system, whose basic constituents are protons and electrons. By analogies, reasoning or by further hypotheses, various life phenomena are then inter preted by this dual structure.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.