It was a marvelous surprise this week to receive an email from my editors EDIPUCRS to say that the book 'A Gravidade Esta Grande Escultora' had been selected for consideration for this years Jabuti Premios 2010 in the category Natural Sciences & Health Sciences. This prestigious award, sponsored by the Brazilian Chamber of Books, has been running since 1958 and is possibly the most well known and important literary prize in Brazil.

Written together with Dr Joan Vernikos, former Director of Nasa's Life Sciences division,  the book shows how adopting a lifestyle that optimizes the use of gravity as an ally, can help reverse or slow down the changes that come with the so-called aging process. By looking at the results of space research, we can gain a better understanding  of the effects of Earth's gravity on our human physiology and use this in a common sense way to help improve the quality of our lives.

Results of the selection process should be announced in August and October this year, so fingers crossed!