The Devil's Element

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The New York Times best-selling author explores the dual nature of phosphorus, a critical element in both lethal substances and essential fertilizers that sustain billions. In this significant work of science and environmental journalism, Pulitzer Prize finalist Dan Egan examines the history and future of phosphorus, often referred to as “the oil of our time.” Discovered in a seventeenth-century alchemy lab, phosphorus quickly became a coveted resource, leading to its extraction from battlefields, guano islands in Peru, Florida's Bone Valley, and the Western Sahara's sand dunes. Over the last century, phosphorus has revolutionized farming, supporting the dramatic growth of the human population. However, Egan warns that our excessive dependence on this vital nutrient has resulted in toxic algae blooms and “dead zones” in waterways across the U.S., from Florida to the Mississippi River basin and the Great Lakes. Egan also highlights the pressing issue of dwindling phosphorus supplies, which threaten global food systems and could lead to increased conflict. This essential account calls for urgent attention to one of the most dangerous yet overlooked environmental challenges of our time.