Archetypes of Sex

Overview | TOC | Preface | Links

Andreas Deutsch
Archetypes of Sex
Unmasking Algae’s Innocence, the Nathanael Pringsheim Revolution
246 pp, 129 Figs., paperback, 30.00 €
ISBN 978-3-86225-143-8
_{(To be published on 15 September 2026; e-book available.)}

Algae have helped shape our world: they absorb CO₂ and produce oxygen, without which we would not exist today. They are also helping to build the world of tomorrow by combating climate change and providing essential resources for sustainable nutrition. The botanist Nathanael Pringsheim (1823–1894), a contemporary of Charles Darwin, brought algae to the firefront of science through his revolutionary discovery of their sexuality, new recognized as a fundamental principle of life.

This book offers readers:

A captivating journey through the history of science, tracing the evolution from natural philosophy to modern science.
An exploration of Pringsheim’s revolutionary revelation of sexuality in algae, which revealed sexuality as a universal principle of life.
The first-ever account of the Pringsheim family, tragically torn apart during the Third Reich, and their significant contributions to the natural sciences.
An enthralling narrative of the challenging journey to the establishment of the first German marine biological research station on Helgoland, for which Pringsheim was the patron.
An appealing showcase of magnificent, large-scale artistic interpretations of microscopic worlds, created by a master of the craft and scientific illustration.
A heartfelt tribute to a now largely forgotten naturalist,

and last but not least an unexpected perspective on algae research, which Pringsheim dedicated himself to, and which is more relevant today than ever before.

Andreas Deutsch, theoretical biologist, adjunct professor at Dresden University of Technology, is a distant descendant of Nathanael Pringsheim.

Learn more at The Pringsheim Project.

E-book/pdf edition in the Duncker & Humblot eLibrary ISBN 978-3-86225-584-9 Free sample from the e-book/pdf edition at ISBN 978-3-86225-584-9 (includes the preface) Buy e-book/pdf edition (€30.00) at ISBN 978-3-86225-584-9 Pre-order printed edition (€30.00 plus shipping***) at ISBN 978-3-86225-143-8 (Ships from the publisher within 5 business days. 60-day return policy.) Publication date: 15 September 2026. Pre-orders will begin shipping on 9 September. ***Free worldwide shipping on all pre-orders placed by 15 September 2026. Individual chapters: Preface by the author (6 pp.) E-book/PDF edition (€0.00) available from 1 Influences: Science in transition (20 pp.) E-book/PDF edition (€16.00) available from 2 Career: The life of Nathanael Pringsheim (64 pp.) E-book/PDF edition (€24.00) available from 3 Scientific work: Archetypes of sexuality (46 pp.) E-book/PDF edition (€24.00) available from 4 Marine Biology: Pringsheim's legacy on Helgoland (40 pp.) E-book/PDF edition (€24.00) available from 5 Aesthetics: Art forms of microscopy (28 pp.) E-book/PDF edition (€20.00) available from Appendix: Documents, literature, index (34 pp.) E-book/PDF edition (€16.00) available from External webshops: The provider’s terms and conditions apply.

German language edition

Overview | TOC | Preface | Links