An anesthesiologist and NASA adviser explores how pioneering doctors and scientists have built on findings about the body's response to extreme environments and physical challenges to develop such medical innovations as open-heart surgery, skin grafts, and trauma care.

"Published in Great Britain under the title 'Extremes: life, death and the limits of the human body' by Hodder & Stoughton"--Title page verso.

Ice -- Fire -- Heart -- Trauma -- Intensive care -- Water -- Orbit -- Mars -- Final frontiers.