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This digital document is an article from Daedalus, published by American Academy of Arts and Sciences on June 22, 2004. The length of the article is 2025 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: On the search for extrasolar planets.
Author: Alan P. Boss
Publication: Daedalus (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2004
Publisher: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Volume: 133Issue: 3Page: 116(4)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from World of Earth Science, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 2024 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.A comprehensive guide to the concepts, theories, discoveries, pioneers, and issues relating to topics in earth science. Its encyclopedic approach offers entries that are written in easy to understand language. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Water: Science and Issues, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 1478 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Integrates key concepts, current issues, traditional and emerging research, and major legislation in three subject areas: fresh water, marine waters, and policy and management. These topics are complemented by historical overviews, biographical sketches, and career information. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Macmillan Reference USA Science Library: Space Sciences, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 2998 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.From the history of space exploration to the future of space business, this set offers a broad survey of the space sciences. Includes biographies of scientists and the space-related job market. ... Read more

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The “Gale Encyclopedia of Science” is written at a level somewhere between the introductory sources and the highly technical texts currently available. This six-volume set covers all major areas of science and engineering, as well as mathematics and the medical and health sciences, while providing a comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge and technology. Alphabetically arranged entries provide a user-friendly format that makes the broad scope of information easy to access and decipher. Entries typically describe scientific concepts, provide overviews of scientific areas and, in some cases, define terms.

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To many people, the main question about extraterrestrial life is whether it exists. But to the scientific community, that question has already been answered: it does, and within our solar system. The new science of astrobiology is already being practiced at NASA's Astrobiology Institute and the University of Washington's new Department of Astrobiology. Life Everywhere is the first book to lay out what the new science of astrobiology is all about. It asks the fascinating questions researchers in astrobiology are asking themselves: What is life? How does it originate? How often does life survive once it arises? How does evolution work? And what determines whether complex or intelligent life will emerge from more primitive forms? Informed by interviews with most of the top people in this nascent field, this book introduces readers to one of the most important scientific developments of the next century.Amazon.com Review
Are we alone? As the search for extraterrestrial intelligence comes moreand more into the mainstream, scientists like David Darling step up toexplain what we know and what's possible. His book Life Everywhereexplores the history and current state of the field called, perhaps unfortunately, astrobiology. Devoted neither to organisms skimming the sun's surface nor to possible signs of intelligence among celebrities--though not explicitly rejecting these phenomena--astrobiology is concerned with the basic questions of life: What is a living organism? Is it common, or likely, elsewhere in the universe? Is it worth trying to communicate across light years? Darling, an astronomer and science journalist, has a knack for explaining complexities and fine details that carries his prose forward where other authors have foundered; the reader is swept up in the enthusiasm of the researchers Darling describes. Writing of the astronomical search for signs of life far off in the galaxy, he captures the thrill of this work:

Their efforts will revolutionize astrobiology, more so perhaps thanspacecraft parachuting down out of the orange sky of Titan or roving therock-strewn deserts of Mars. The world-shaking headlines of the nexttwenty years will likely come from giant instruments, on the ground and inEarth orbit, gazing with far sight at the planetary systems of other stars.

Since most research germane to the field has been done here on Earth,Darling explores such hot topics as heat vents and other geothermalmini-biomes, meteoritic dissection, and, of course, SETI's radio telescopearrays. Mars, Venus, and the moons of the outer planets are all majorcharacters, and their stories will reinvigorate most readers' excitementabout the prospects of having neighbors just down the cosmic street. Ending with a set of hypotheses and brief explorations of their ramifications if shown to be true, Life Everywhere is an outstanding and thought-provoking look at what could ultimately be the most world-shaking research ever conducted. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Good, but becoming dated.
Life Everywhere was undoubtedly a much more groundbreaking book when it was published in 2001 than it is today. On the one hand, many of the ideas about the probable inevitability of extraterrestrial life which Darling was popularizing still seem to be in vogue today. Most likely, extraterrestrial life will be found to be carbon-and-water based on an earth-sized planet located around a star similar to our sun and located within a distance from it known as the habitable zone. A large moon and a Jupiter-sized planet within that solar system would greatly facilitate matters in a favorable way for life to arise. But cases can be made for exceptions to all these conditions. One thing that really dates this book however is a section near the end where the author looks forward to the advances in knowledge which we will gain by space missions in 2004, 2006, etc. I haven't been a follower of astrobiology up until recently, but I don't think these missions have revealed anything earthshaking or I would have heard about it. One discovery that has been momentous, of course, is the recently announced(April 21st, 2009)finding of an earth-sized planet 20 light-years away. It seems likely there are more to come, and that there will be a new crop of astrobiology books, inspired by this discovery, to come also. Another book on the subject of extraterrestrial life which is much more recent than Life Everywhere, is one called Beyond UFO's: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Its Astonishing Implications for our Future, by Jeffrey Bennett. Don't let the sensational sounding title fool you. This book was written by a scientifically trained writer of an astrobiology textbook and is endorsed by scientists in the field. In my opinion, besides being more recent, it provides more detail and a more systematic and comprehensive view of the field, although, of course, it predates discovery of the earth-size planet. Bennett, like Darling, also takes some time out to lecture a bit about the negative effects on science of creationism and intelligent design. This seems to be standard procedure in popular science books these days, and I'm not personally convinced these warning labels are warranted. Be that as it may, both books are good, but if I had to choose between the two, I would pick the Bennett book.

Nice change of perspective from "Rare Earth"
I think this is a good book to read after reading "Rare Earth".The writing style is definately more casual and as if you are inside the mind of Darling, compared to the more "here's the information" style of other books. It took a while to get used to it, but in the end it was a nice change to have that type of commentary.

The book does a good job of covering the various areas of astrobiology, however, I think Rare Earth probably does a better job in talking about a few things. This is one reason why I recommend reading Rare Earth first. The other reason obviously being the critique of the Rare Earth hypothesis, and one section that totally rips apart Guillermo Gonzalez's "hidden agenda" as he calls it. The two books are kind of like listening to a debate, and both seem to have good arguments in some place but slightly unreasonable arguments in other places. Overall it gives you a good feel for where we stand today in our knowledge and what we can reasonably assume about the possibility of life elsewhere (microbial or complex).

At times I did feel like Darling was being a bit unfair to the Rare Earth authors - attacking them or the book a bit too much. But in the end he settled down.

Overall a good book that complements Rare Earth well.

Includes a blistering critique of the "rare earth" hypothesis
Two things have happened in recent years to persuade most scientists that life beyond earth is not just possible, but likely.Indeed some people, including myself, believe there is, as the title of David Darling's book has it, "Life Everywhere."

Well, not in the center of the sun or on the surface of a neutron star--at least not life as we know it.

"Life as we know it."This is an important phrase that comes up again and again in discussions about astrobiology."Life as we know it" means life with a carbon base and liquid water.David Darling considers silicone-based life and even life forms so bizarre that we wouldn't recognize them if we saw them, but basically he sticks with life as we know it in this very interesting answer to those who think that life in the universe is rare.

The two things:

(1) The discovery of extremophiles, bacteria that live in sulfurous hot springs, deep inside the earth, and at the bottom of deep oceans.Instead of deriving their energy from the sun, they are able to use heat coming from within the earth to metabolize.

(2) The discovery of scores of planets (albeit not earth-sized planets--yet) revolving around other stars.

What the first discovery means is that life doesn't have to exist or begin in conditions such as there are or have been on the surface of the earth, but can thrive in places previous thought hostile to life.That opens up a whole lot of the universe to life including parts of our solar system previously thought inimical to life, such as in an ocean under the icy crust of Europa or beneath the inhospitable surface of Mars.And the fact that planets are now clearly plentiful means that there are numerous places for life to develop.

Darling, who is an unusually lucid writer and a man who gets to the bottom of things, begins with the nitty-gritty problem of just how to define life.If you haven't been introduced to this strangely knotty problem, this book may open your eyes.Do we consider reproduction, metabolism, growth, etc. in our definition?And which of these elements are essential and which are not?The postmodern definition now preferred by most people I have read is "undergoes Darwinian evolution."Is that adequate?Is that the essence?Darling puts all the cards on the table and lets you decide.

Next Darling recapitulates ideas about how life began.The main new idea is that life may be an inevitable consequence of the nature of matter and energy.It appears that matter is self-organizing.Darling reviews the ideas of how lifeless matter might replicate and how cells might develop from various molecules and water.These "leaky membranes" could be the precursors of the first biological cells. (p. 40)

He goes on to make the case for a universe with abundant life.But along the way he presents a blistering critique of Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe (2000) by Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee, in which it is argued that the circumstances that allow life are rare and that those circumstances as seen on earth are unlikely to be replicated anywhere else.Darling not only utterly destroys their argument, point by point, but even shows that part of the reason that it was advanced was because they were under the influence of one Guillermo Gonzalez, professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, who is also a creationist with the usual supernatural agenda.

This was bombshell to me.But Darling shows that nearly every argument that Gonzalez makes is designed (pun intended) to discredit the idea that there is life anywhere but on earth.On page 112, Darling refers to an article entitled "Live Here or Nowhere" co-authored by Gonzalez for a publication called "Connections" published by Reasons to Believe, Inc. of Pasadena, California, whose mission is "to communicate the uniquely factual basis for belief in the Bible."The article concludes, "The fact that the sun's location is fine-tuned to permit the possibility of life--and even more precisely fine-tuned to keep the location fixed in that unique spot where life is possible--powerfully suggests divine design."

A couple more points:

First, Darling argues that life forms on other worlds, however dissimilar their chemistry, are likely to be familiar to us in the sense that if there is an atmosphere, some will have wings, and if there is an ocean, some with have fins, if there is a solid ground to walk upon, some will walk and run, and if there is light to see, some with have eyes.This idea of "convergence" is dictated by the laws of physics which requires evolutionary adaptations to take forms that work efficiently within certain environments.Of course if the life forms we eventually discover exist in great dust clouds, their adaptations may be very dissimilar and surprising.Even on solid ground here on earth some run and some hop, some crawl and some slither.

Second, since it is now known that bacteria spores can exist more or less indefinitely (some have been revitalized after hundreds of millions of years of dormancy: see page 150), the once discredited idea of panspermia, namely that life originated elsewhere in the universe and arrived here as spores, has been rejuvenated.Personally, I've always liked this idea championed by Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe; however this book has convinced me that life could arrive from without or develop from within.Either way (or both) seem likely to me.

Is extraterrestrial life widespread?
This book is actually in the form of a long essay defending the hypothesis that life, at least in microbial form, is widespread in the Galaxy.

The author starts by trying to define life.Is it replication?Evolution?Metabolism?Next, he discusses the question of the atmosphere of the early Earth.A reducing atmosphere might produce complex organic molecules in some warm little pond.But the Earth is unlikely to have had such an atmosphere then.That leads to the question of where life originated.Near ocean vents, or on (or just under) the ocean floor?And when life originated.Over 4 billion years ago?When the Earth was still being bombarded by bolides?

The author then discusses meteorites, along with the possibilities for them having brought organic molecules (or even life) to Earth.After that, there's some material on extrasolar planets, including "hot Jupiters," which may migrate right through a stellar system, wiping out all the rest of the planets in it.

A very interesting section is Darling's critique of Ward and Brownlee's book, "Rare Earth."That book contains the view that although microbial life is probably widespread on other worlds, multicellular life (and especially intelligent life) will prove to be rare.Actually, that view, while a minority one, is unremarkable.After all, there is good evidence that unicellular life originated rather quickly on Earth while multicellular life took quite a bit longer.But Ward and Brownlee go further than that, claiming that several things about Earth are special and unusual: the Moon, the exact spacing between catastrophic events, being in the right part of the "habitable zone," having Jupiter to shield it from heavier bolide bombardment, having a high metallicity Sun, having plate tectonics, and being in the right part of the Galaxy!Darling presents interesting rebuttals to these points.And he finishes the chapter by pointing out that a collaborator of Ward and Brownlee, Guillermo Gonzalez, keeps finding signs that the Earth is unique.Darling asks if Gonzalez is letting his religious beliefs influence his scientific views (Gonzalez says that his views that life's origin involved the personal involvement of a supernatural creator have motivated his science and vice-versa). Um, that is a good question.Still, I wonder if that's altogether fair.Ought we ask about Simon Conway Morris, whose religious beliefs support his views on convergence? Or about, say, Fred Hoyle, with his views on panspermia?Or about Freeman Dyson, whose scientific ideas seem rather independent of his religious views? Or about, um, me?

In any case, Darling continues with the debate between Stephen Jay Gould and Simon Conway Morris.Gould argues for divergionism, and says that were we to "replay the tape of life," the odds are that the chordate worm that first incorporated what became the human body plan would have been lost and there would have been no humans.Conway Morris argues for convergionism, and says that no matter what specific species survive, niches tend to get filled.And that means that some creatures very much like humans would have evolved had we replayed that tape.Darling agrees, and adds that even intelligence appears to be convergent.

The author then tells about upcoming space missions to look for life in the solar system and to discover more about extrasolar planets.

Darling concludes that life is a universal phenomenon, life's most important characteristic is to engage in Darwinian evolution, life originates on planets and moons, planets are very common, the evolution of life involves contingency and convergence, and life can be both planet-wide and refugial.But he says that future events may get us to change our minds on some of this.What if we find life on Mars?Or find definitive evidence that Mars has always been sterile?Or find life (or even find complex life) on Europa?What if we spot an atmosphere on an extrasolar planet that suggests life abounds there?What if we findbacteria in interstellar space?What if we find life based on silicon instead of carbon?Or make contact with extraterrestrial artificial life?And while it might be tough to verify it, what if we were to discover that there is no other intelligent life (or no other life) in the universe?

While it wouldn't surprise too many people, the author says it would also be significant were we to verify the existence of a very deep, hot biosphere such as the one Thomas Gold has proposed.

This book is easy to read and informative.I recommend it.

"Politically Correct"
This is one of eight books on Astrobiology which were rushed out after the publication of Joseph's revolutionary and ground breaking text, in May of 2000. Like the other seven competing volumes, this text differs from Joseph's, in that it strictly holds to the "party" line, as approved by the United States government, and repeats, without any critical analysis, mainstream scientific dogma. Now, don't get me wrong. Although he avoids mentioning Joseph's book--which clearly triggered the writing of his own--Darling does an otherwise good job of provding a "politically correct" overview of thestatus quo. If you are interested in the views held by mainstream, government funded scientists, this is the book for you. ... Read more

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"Thawing Eden".It is a fast paced cross-genre odyssey of science, metaphysics, spiritual intrigue, and romantic themes. It is approximately 82,000 words.

Synopsis

What happens when a rogue glaciologist, Matthew Eisel, discovers the Garden of Eden thriving under the Antarctic ice cap? He murders a colleague to protect the secret, then looks for an Eve, of course.

She happens to beDr. Olivia Gimel, a professor of geology, estranged from the academic community by her outspoken adherence to a Biblical young-Earth theory. Intrigued by the charismatic 'Iceman' she joins his research team, but is deceived about the nature of the work.

Eisel sends a mysterious leaf to the cocky exobiologist and ardent evolutionist, Dr. Mike Manns. Captivated by its vibrating telekinetic cells and glutted with ambition to prove an extra-terrestrial origin of life on Earth, he injects himself into the return mission.

On board the research vessel Eislander, theories collide and rival suitors emerge as personal histories thaw and divine schemes begin to cook.Delusions, suspicion, passion and faith twist the characters into a hangman's knot. In the end, only one of them will dangle from a tree, and the final twist may tie anoose for us all.

Paul David Binkley

pauldavidbinkley@gmail.com
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The author takes you on a journy that is fascinating.
The novel opens with a visually vivid and imaginative story line. It is unique, enigmatic and delightfully entertaining with it's fabulously complex characters and surprising and compelling ending. It's refreshing to read a fantasy novel that delivers strong universal issues without being pushy or overbearing. I definitely recommend this book!

Very Exciting!
I stumbled upon this novel unexpectedly. Having never read an Ebook before, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself fully absorbed in a matter of minutes. In fact I couldn't put my Ipod down! I highly recommend this Ebook for anyone that enjoys a unique and entertaining storyline that doesn't have a predictable ending.

Was this even edited?
The book was fairly engaging, and the storyline very interesting.

I wonder if it went through an editing process, since there were multiple incorrect words used. For example, the author uses "rye" instead of "wry" ("he gave her a rye smile"). There are other examples, too. Here/hear and were/where. That's so basic, it was distracting to have those in there.

Maybe I'm just picky.

I also don't believe in global warming, but this was fiction, so I'm ok with it being in a book. :-)

Enjoyable journey
Thawing Eden takes its reader on a voyage of discovery; the discovery of hidden wonders, of love, evil, and other mysteries. Its protagonist is Mike, a likable, sensible, atheist biologist who joins a scientific expedition to Antarctica. The trip is led by the enigmatic "Iceman", a glaciologist with some weird ideas who isn't too happy about Mike coming along. Also coming on the expedition is the lovely Olivia, a creationist geologist (quite a contradiction, if you ask me). Each of these characters is interesting and well-drawn, especially Mike, with whom I could easily relate. He struggles to make sense of what's happening, and of his own feelings.
On their journey, the characters experience some tense, some tender, and even some life-threatening moments. Eventually they come to a place where myth becomes reality, or reality becomes myth. In the end, faith triumphs over reason, an outcome that didn't sit too well with me personally. As a nonbeliever, I would've been more pleased with a less Biblical ending to what was really an enjoyable, adventurous journey.

Thawing Eden
Thawing Eden is a great read. Don't be fooled by the all of the "science talk" at the beginning, this book is will make you think about where you draw the line on Science and Religion if you there is a line to be drawn. The incredible descriptions will allow you to imagine yourself there as a silent character. I found myself cheering for both the main characters (Ice Man and Michael) right up to end. Be prepared for a surprise! I would definately recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Life is a property of the universe. We may not know how it began or where else it exists, but we have come to know a great deal about how it relates to stars, planets, and the larger cosmos. In clear and compelling terms, this book shows how the emerging field of astrobiology investigates the nature of life in space. How did life begin? How common is it? Where do we fit in? These are the important questions that astrobiology seeks to answer.

A truly interdisciplinary endeavor, astrobiology looks at the evidence of astronomy, biology, physics, chemistry, and a host of other fields. A grand narrative emerges, beginning from the smallest, most common particles yet producing amazing complexity and order. Lucas Mix is a congenial guide through the depths of astrobiology, exploring how the presence of planets around other stars affects our knowledge of our own; how water, carbon, and electrons interact to form life as we know it; and how the processes of evolution and entropy act upon every living thing.

This book also reveals that our understanding and our context are deeply intertwined. It shows how much astrobiology can tell us about who we are—as a planet, as a species, and as individuals.

Customer Reviews (2)

Brave new world, well explained
Although the author's primary field of expertise is biology, he has an amazing grasp of the various disciplines which must be applied to an understanding of astrobiology.Throughout this extremely well-written book, which covers a varied and highly complex number of topics, he explains each with a skill which allows the novice in any of the fields to gain an understanding of the emerging field of astrobiology.He emphasizes that the only knowledge we have of `life in space' is that of our own planet, Earth.He explores the complexities of earth (terrean) life to the fullest, all of the physical conditions under which it may arise and develop, and how how the chemical and biological processes of terrean life `work'.In examining other parts of the universe which might hold life, the exoplanets, his examination of them naturally uses the only criteria available where life has arisen, namely those of our own."Life as we know it" is a repeated emphasis of the book, but he puts a compelling case for that being the standard which must be used.If those conditions can be found elsewhere, it is likely that life will emerge in that place, if it has not already.Perhaps the main subtheme of this work is the question "What is life?", a most elusive and exciting question which the author handles with patience and grace.Although the chemistry, well explained, might leave a reader without some chemical background a bit confused, it in no way detracts from the overall accomplishment.An excellent book, which I recommend to anyone who wishes to discover an emerging field of study, at the ground-floor level of its existence.

Interesting
I have not finished this book, so I may come back and change this review, but so far it is pretty good. Nothing ground breaking, but an interesting read. This is probably good as an introduction book for the beginner. If you are at all interested in the subject, I would recommend picking this up. ... Read more

Product Description
Astrobiology: A Multidisciplinary Approach is the most comprehensive textbook available for emerging upper-level courses in astrobiology. Internationally renowned authority Jonathan Lunine gives students with a variety of backgrounds a solid foundation in the essential concepts of physics, chemistry, biology, and other relevant sciences to help them achieve a well-rounded understanding of the fascinating study of the origin of life, planetary evolution, and life in the cosmos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A brilliant and comprehensive exposure of the fascinating field of Astrobiology.
Not only is Lunine a brilliant astrobiologist but his book, represents and absolutely fantastic read. For a well educated general audience as well as for the already initiated astrobiologist, Lunine offers a brilliant and comprehensive exposure of the most current ideas in the fascinating field of Astrobiology. I highly recommend it.Ihrenes 2006.

Brilliant but demanding overview of a new field
This astrobiology textbook is brilliant but demanding -- not everyone, even science fans, wants to know this much about life in the universe! Lunine describes his book as "a comprehensive treatment of astrobiology for upper level undergraduate students and beginning graduate students". The book is also targeted at senior scientists who want an introduction to this new discipline. The resulting volume of 586 densely packed pages is a tour de force of basic physics and chemistry as well as biology and planetary science. The first half the book leads the reader through the fundamentals of physics, biochemistry, and microbiology essential to understanding the origin of life. The second half covers life on Earth, the habitability of Mars, Europa and Titan, other planetary systems, the co-evolution of life and its host planet, and the evolution of intelligence. The mostly monochrome illustrations are well selected, but printing quality occasionally lapses -- the only reason I rate this book four stars and not five.

Best astrobiology textbook on the market now
Astrobiology is a relatively new science.Not completely new: I've been reading astrobiology books since the 1960s.But only recently have some fairly decent astrobiology textbooks been written that picture a core of topics needed to cover the subject.These include the definition, nature, and origin of life; the development of life on Earth, the mass extinctions on Earth; possibilities of life elsewhere in the planetary system, possibilities for life to survive in outer space; changes to the Earth's environment brought about by life; the nature and evolution of consciousness and intelligent life; detection of extrasolar planets; and signatures of extraterrestrial life.They also include some astronomy: formation of galaxies, habitable galaxies and habitable portions of galaxies, formation of stars and planets in these galaxies, migration of planets, statistics on deadly collisions of big objects with potentially life-bearing planets, and the significance of risks to life such as supernovae and gamma ray bursters.

So far, no book is ideal in covering all these topics for upper division college students.But I think this one comes closest.

Since this book might be read by those who know plenty of astronomy but not much biology, or by those who know biology but not astronomy, the book begins with some needed background: fundamentals of physics, physical chemistry, and biochemistry.It then gets into the question of how the elements we're made of were synthesized in the first place.And it shows that our Universe is fairly well suited for life, even if not completely ideal.

Then we get into an important topic, the thermodynamic foundations of life.The book makes the point that one always has to be aware of the energetics of life: life needs energy, so where does that energy come from?In addition, life requires a low entropy state.Such states are not all that hard to come by, but one must know how one is achieved.And life implies a high information content.Again, one must know how to measure that content and decide where it has come from.The author makes the point that given sufficient free energy, systems not in equilibrium will exhibit self-organizing and self-complexifying properties.I found this fascinating.It was almost as though the Purpose of Life were to reduce carbon dioxide, and life were merely a side-effect of catalyzing this reaction.

Next there is a fascinating discussion of how life might have evolved.Did we start with replicators, cell boundaries, substrates, or proteins, or a little of all of them?Was there an "RNA world" before the "DNA world?"And a "TNA" or "PNA" (peptide nucleic acid) world before that?Can we have autocatalysis without replication?

After that comes a discussion of extreme environments, given that life's last common ancestor may well have been an extremophile.And then we learn about the faint early Sun, a carbon dioxide greenhouse effect on Earth, the rise of oxygen in the atmosphere, and a possible "snowball Earth." We read about possibilities of life elsewhere in our planetary system: Europa, Titan, and Mars.And we find out about techniques for discovering extraterrestrial signatures of life.There's a very good and up-to-date section on extrasolar planets.

The textbook ends with a little material on the nature of self-awareness and on future prospects for the human species and civilization.I think it is an excellent text. ... Read more

Product Description

In this fascinating and cutting-edge work, Dr. Ben Bova explores one of the most thrilling and elemental questions humanity has ever posed: Are we alone? From Copernicus to the advent of SETI and beyond, Bova takes his readers on a tour of the scientific and political battles fought in the pursuit of knowledge and speculates on what the future may hold.

Can life exist outside the planet Earth? The first question one should ask is: How is it possible for life to exist within Earth's brutal confines? On our own world, creatures exist -- and thrive -- in environments first thought to be completely alien and inhospitable. From the rare air of the upper atmosphere to the depths of the oceans, life persists amid crushing pressures, crippling heat, and absolute darkness. Bacteria brought to the moon have survived for years without water, at temperatures near absolute zero, and in spite of radiation levels that would kill human observers. With such resilient and tenacious creatures, it seems that life could spring up, and survive, anywhere.

Many skeptics believe that finding life outside our solar system will never occur within our lifetime -- but perhaps it's unnecessary to look that far. Our neighboring planets may already serve as havens for extraterrestrial life. Scientists have already identified ice caps on Mars and what appears to be an enormous ocean underneath the ice of Jupiter's moons. The atmosphere on Venus appeared harsh and insupportable of life, composed of a toxic atmosphere and oceans of acid -- until scientists concluded that Earth's atmosphere was eerily similar billions of years ago. An extraterrestrial colony, in some form, may already exist, just awaiting discovery.

With the development of new technology, such as the space-based telescopes of NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder(TPF), we may not have to leave the comfort of our home world to discover proof of life elsewhere. But the greatest impediment to such an important scientific discovery may not be technological, but political. No scientific endeavor can be launched without a budget, and matters of money are within the arena of politicians. Dr. Bova explores some of the key players and the arguments waged in a debate of both scientific and cultural priorities, showing the emotions, the controversy, and the egos involved in arguably the most important scientific pursuit ever begun.

Customer Reviews (1)

On the subject of life in the universe
I enjoyed this book. It gave a lot of information on the subject of life in the universe and the lack of intelligence in Washington! ... Read more

Product Description
This concise and beautifully illustrated book traces the evolution of the Cosmos from the Big Bang to the development of intelligent life on Earth, conveying clear science in an engaging narrative. By mapping the history of the Universe for introductory science and astrobiology course for non-science majors, this book explores many of the most fascinating questions in science. What is the origin of the Universe? How do stars and planets form? How does life begin? How did intelligence arise? Are we alone in the Cosmos? Physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and geology are combined to create a chronicle of events in which the swirling vapors in the primordial cloud of the Universe evolved over billions of years into conscious life.Features:•The most fascinating questions on the history of the Universe are answered in this text for one-semester introductory science courses.
•The strong narrative and exciting color images of this incredible story will motivate non-science students to develop an understanding of science and life on Earth
•Explains science in a way that isn't overwhelming for non-science majors.
•Questions for the student prompt critical thinking.
•Combines astronomy, geology and biology to give a broad introduction to these sciences for non-science students.
•Coverage of the latest discoveries in astrobiology conveys the excitement of this fast-moving field.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Everything you've wanted to know about life, the universe, and everything...
If you've ever wondered how we came to be here on this planet of ours, in our galaxy, in this universe, then this is the book for you. It is beautifully illustrated, very well explained, from cosmology to astronomy to planetary science to geology to chemistry to biology. Although intended as a textbook for a science-distribution requirement for non-science majors, I found it to be a fascinating read on its own. It renewed my wonder at this strange phenomenon of life and the many factors that enable it. ... Read more

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What will they look like? That is the question addressed in this wonderfully illustrated book for "earthlings" who want to explore beyond the cardboard aliens of television science fiction to find out what science says about our cosmic cousins from other planet--if they exist.

Author Terence Dickinson, an acclaimed astronomy writer, examines t! he picture we have absorbed from TV and movies about creatures from other planets, from the friendly visitor in E.T. to the savage creature in Alien and the gaggle of other-worldly folk from Star Trek and its clones. Dickinson then explains how the variety of environments in the universe could give rise to creature far more different from us than anything Hollywood's invented.

Through the talents of illustrator Adolf Schaller, one of the chief artists and Emmy-award winner from Carl Sagan's Cosmos television series, alien worlds come alive with plants, insects and animals never dreamed of before. Yet, Schaller's vision is based on sound assumptions about the gravity of each hypothetical planet, the type of star that it orbits and other factors that bring plausible alien environments to life. The book winds up with a look at "life as we don't know it," featuring creatures and entities that might have evolved from something other that carbon-based biology, the foundation of ! Earth life.

A unique blend of science and imagination, Extraterrestrials will compel anyone who has ever thought about what-and who-might be out there.

Customer Reviews (7)

A wonderful supplement to a xenobiological library.
The first thing that makes this book stand out from other books in its genre is clear and original illustrations.For those with an interest in aliens it offers insights into possibilities without getting bogged down in confusing esoterica.

But that generalization is a bit of a double-edged sword.Tantalizing concepts are occasionally presented with little explanation, and relevant controversies are overlooked.In essence, the author raises questions that, even if he has no intention of answering them, he doesn't acknowledge.

A book for all ages
It is not for children only as some claim.
This book is for all ages.
Nothing wrong with fables and fantasies.
They are good for the heart and the mind.
I love this book.
A great companion.
I wish a great success for this writer who is well known worldwide.

S. Mahdi, Caro, Egypt.

Xenophanes
Cute book.Written mainly for children and young adults.It would have been nice to own this when I was a child as it clearly illustrates some basic principles of evolution/alien life/planetary physics.Eventhough it is simplistic I still value it as part of my collection for its illustrations that make your points clear to anyone who is interested in learning about this topic.

Great for anyone!
I bought this book at a book fair back in junior high probably 10 years ago. I must have read it cover to cover over a dozen times back then and the book still sits on my shelf today. Great illustrations, interesting concepts. This book is certainly worth the price and is great for children just beginning to show an interest in space, aliens and sci-fi, or for adults who simply want a book that is a simple intro into basic extraterrestrial theory. The book starts off talking about aliens in movies, and then goes into what some aliens might look like depending on the type of planet they inhabit. While the book could stand to be updated, it really is just a lot of fun.

Perfect for Students
This is the perfect book to use with middle school and high school students.I use this as a reference for cross-curricular projects with science fiction, science, language arts, and government.The background and general information is not too much for students to digest and the illustrations are fabulous.When required to come up with feasible life-forms for various planet types, the breakdown of possibilities for "alien" senses helps students to consider new approaches.The specific planet descriptions are also immensely helpful, giving students something to build on, opening their minds to the limitless possibilities of extraterrestrial life.This is the singlarly essential building block for endless projects.I wish I could afford a class set.Marvelous! ... Read more

Product Description
This book offers an advanced introduction to the increasingly robust fields of extrasolar planets and astrobiology. No other text currently available applies this level of mathematics and physics, while also providing an extensive grounding in key issues of chemistry, biology, and geophysics. With extensive references to the literature and chapter-ending exercises, this book can be used as the core text for teaching undergraduate or introductory graduate level courses. The text will also provide astrobiologists with an indispensable "User's Manual" when quick reference to key mathematical and physical techniques is needed. A continually updated online component, fully cross referenced with the text, is also available. Foreword by Geoff Marcy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Review of Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology Caleb A. Sharf
This is a good open-minded, open-ended look at a topic that is now coming of age. Using a sound technical, multi-disiplined approach Scharf has managed to investigate this subject without drawing premature conclusions or venturing groundless hypotheses based on prejudicial thinking. It is a book that will make you think.

This book is quite readable for a college edjucated amature astronomer or other science/astronomy-savvy individual at home or as a college text that would not be out of place at MIT or CALTECH.

A little warning though, Scarf does like his math and physics(which are quite in order in this work) so if you are a little rusty in these subjects it may be good to bone up a little.

Best. Text. Ever.
The textbook is well sourced, well written, and incredibly well organized.As a astronomy and biology student wishing to understand the unification of these two rather different approaches to science, this is invaluable and MUCH appreciated.

Students sometimes don't realize that textbooks are not confusing because of their subject material, but usually very opaque because of their ORGANIZATION.

Scharf's organization of the material and presentation is nonpareil, and what's more, this is the only text currently available (I have read every one), that contains a physical, mathematically based derivation and demonstration of the sciences at work.

This is incredibly important as Astrobiology becomes a denser field with more and more concepts piling atop one another.Presenting the grounding of the subject in the basic sciences, not as abstract musings but as truly observationally based science, is perhaps the author's greatest success.

In the world of science textbooks, which I believe is all too often a graveyard where students' love of science goes to die, this text stands amongst the few which will not only encourage your understanding of its chosen topic, but will cause you to want to expand it.

An Excellent Resource
I am an Astrophysics major who had the pleasure of taking the author's course on this subject. You will find this to be a detailed, thorough, and quantitative introduction to the field, as well as engaging and accessible. A must have for any student interested in extrasolar planets or astrobiology.

Excellent
This is far and away the most comprehensive book on the market covering extra-solar planets.It is both rigorous and easy to follow, no small feat for such a new textbook about a young field.I highly recommend it to higher level undergraduates interested in learning more about everything from T Tauri stars and protoplanetary disks to extremeophiles.Keep in mind, this book is written by an astrophysicist, not a biologist. ... Read more

Product Description

Growing evidence, based on observations from orbiters, landers and telescopes, indicates that Mars may still have numerous hidden water reservoirs. Moreover, from the point of view of habitability, Mars is a prime target for astrobiologists in search of extant or extinct microbial life because we know that life exists in earth?s permafrost regions, such as parts of Siberia and the Antarctic, which are the closest terrestrial analogues to Mars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A collection of papers on a fascinating topic
In the past month, more and more of us have begun to believe that liquid water has indeed flowed on the Martian surface at least once or twice in the past decade.

Well, what does all this mean about the past and present reservoirs of water on Mars?Could it be that Mars once supported life?Could it do so now?

While the findings from the past couple of years are too recent to be included in this book, I think this volume does put many of these questions into proper perspective.

We start with the history of water on Mars.That includes what we think we're learning from meteorites (we'd probably know much more if we had some sample return data). It also covers questions of atmospheric evolution (which certainly pertain to the question of whether subsurface water-ice-reservoirs exist at present there), analogies between conditions from which early life probably arose on Earth and conditions on ancient Mars, and hydrated minerals on Mars.

Next is a section on water reservoirs on Mars at present.This includes a discussion of the global distribution of subsurface water as measured by Mars Odyssey, an article on polar caps, a paper on ground ice in the Martian regolith, and a paper by the editor about the water cycle in the atmosphere and shallow subsurface.The conclusion here is that the seemingly tiny amount of atmospheric water (only a trillion kilograms) is still enough to account for observed Martian gullies.

The final section is about aqueous environments and the implications for life.It starts by asking about the potential for evidence of life on Mars that might be preserved in sediments and mineral precipitations associated with polar lakes, streams and springs.The next question to be addressed is whether ancient (and recent) lakes on Mars could have been possible habitats for life (or be the last oases of life there at present).After that comes a paper on impact craters, water, and microbial life.Impacts can cause water to be trapped in not only in craters but in fractures of shocked rocks.

If life did exist on Mars (or still exists there), is it in salty water?Quite possibly it is, and we can read about it in the penultimate paper on microbial life in brines, evaporites, and saline sediments.While the Viking mission experiments failed to detect any life on Mars, those missions did not, of course, examine any regions where there was liquid water.

The final paper is about the lessons for Mars exploration that we can derive from the microbiology of deep-sea hydrothermal vents. As evidence gets stronger that life on Earth may have arisen in or near such vents, the question of whether such vents also existed on Mars becomes more interesting.

I recommend this book.
... Read more

Product Description

Astrobiology -- the study of the intimate relationship between life and the cosmos -- is a fast-growing field that touches on aspects of cosmology, astrophysics, and chemistry. In the first scholarly overview of this dynamic field, biochemists Kevin W. Plaxco and Michael Gross tell the story of life from the Big Bang to the present.

Emphasizing the biochemical nature of astrobiology, Plaxco and Gross examine the origin of the chemical elements, the events behind the developments that made the Universe habitable, and the ongoing sustenance of life. They discuss the formation of the first galaxies and stars, the diverse chemistry of the primordial planet, the origins of metabolism, the evolution of complex organisms, and the feedback regulation of Earth's climate. They also explore life in extreme habitats, potential extraterrestrial habitats, and the search for extraterrestrial life.

This broadly accessible introduction captures the excitement, controversy, and evolution of the dynamic young field of astrobiology. It shows clearly how scientists from different disciplines can combine their special knowledge to enhance our understanding of the Universe.

Customer Reviews (7)

astrobiology
It came in the condition described. very nice book. it's a nice course to take.

A fine academic summary for astrobiology
Plaxco and Gross give an expansive coverage for this topic. It is a bit too chemistry-oriented, with formulae of reactions discussed both via text discussions and figures. Also, the sidebars were fascinating, but at the same time distracting from the flow of the text. I think this is not a book for the casual reader, but rather a supplemental to a couse textbook on this topic.

Astrobiology by Plaxco & Gross
This is an excellent book; in a field inherently complex they have given sensible prose so the reader can follow the trajectory of an evolving cellular life on earth.Just one example:the Miller-Urey experiment did not resolve all questions, especially the question of prebiotic formation of lipids which derive from the reduction of the carbon-compound sugars.So where did the sugars get reduced?The sugar molecules come from the ocean passing through the elevated temperatures of the planetary crust, "where reduction can be catalyzed by the iron mineral troilite (FeS)".Apparantly, every 8 million years deep sea vents filter the ocean--in geologic time 8 million years is about a week.(page 80-81)The lipids are an important part of cell biology.Heinrich Holland's book The Chemical Evolution of the Atmosphere and Oceans (1984)is extremely technical and by now dated, but still recommended.Plaxco and Gross give updated information.Those early Hadean years and environment gave the groundwork for what was to happen eventually.

Superb overview of a key scientific discipline
When I was growing up, the science of extraterrestrial life was called exobiology. This was a difficult area of research since there was no evidence of any subject matter, and the term fell into disrepute. The modern successor is called astrobiology, which may still not be the best name. Anyhow, the idea is to study the possibility of life out there in all its contexts, to look at both the nature of the universe and how life developed and survives here on Earth to see what might be possible.

This book demonstrates the new approach to a "t." After an introductory chapter that attempts to define life, the second chapter, entitled "Origins of a Habitable Universe,"provides the best summary I've ever read of how the universe began and developed in its early stages, leading to how stars form and evolve. The story continues in the third chapter ("Origins of a Habitable Planet"), which covers how the solar system and eventually the Earth formed. The next four chapters start with chemistry and end with biology, going from discussing the basic chemical reactions that might have occurred on the early Earth and trying to work out how this led to life. And, once there was life, how it developed over time into ever more sophisticated and complex creatures, changing its environment along the way, as the invention of photosynthesis led to an atmosphere steeped with caustic oxygen, a nasty substance to early life but essential to the active metabolism of modern animals. The chemistry discussion is the single strongest portion of the book, not too surprising since one of the authors is a chemist.

The final chapters become more topical: extremophiles (life that exists in places you'd think were too nasty to support life), a survey of conceivably habitable areas of our solar system (and beyond), and, finally, the search for extraterrestrial life from the Viking missions (another excellent discussion, this time of the Viking biology experiments and their mixed conclusions) to the Mars meteorite to SETI.

There are maybe half-a-dozen truly great questions in science: How did the universe begin? How did it end? How did life begin? Are we alone? If there's any one science that ties all of these together, it's astrobiology. As our tools grow more sophisticated, and as we grow ever more capable of answering these questions, astrobiology will become ever more significant. Look for headlines worldwide on the day when - as this book predicts - we detect oxygen in the atmosphere of an alien planet, something that (so far as we know) could only be caused by life.

And if you want to be ready for that day, read this book. It covers all the relevant topics in clear and entertaining prose, always remaining comprehensible despite the sometimes arcane issues but never skimping on technical detail. You can read it quickly (as I had to do since it was a library book I'd been slow to get started on) and get the gist of a matter, or take your time to read carefully in order to truly understand what's going on (as I could do only a couple of times).

The copy of this book I have in hand is actually from my local library; however, I want this book by my side for further study and as a reference. I will definitely be buying a copy (if I don't get it for Christmas, that is!). I recommend this book highly to anyone interested in one of the most significant fields of scientific study there is. (Note that I don't give out five stars very often.)

Brilliant Book For The Armchair Scientist
Imagine that your best friend were some brilliant world-famous scientist.Now imagine that the two of you were sharing a beer one night, and you carelessly asked the question: "I wonder if there is life elsewhere in the Universe?"

This book would be his answer.

"Astrobiology," by Kevin Plaxco and Michael Gross, is the perfect book for the armchair scientist.It should sit on your bookshelf beside Hawking's "Brief History of Time."It would also be an excellent book for the curious undergraduate.

Plaxco and Gross fill the book with easy, accessible prose, and lots of great science.Best of all, the sidebars, with which the book is liberally sprinkled.They make you feel like you are busy bending an elbow with a scientist that has a wicked sense of humor.After all, how many science books can you think of that use the word `flummoxed'?

If the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" had a chapter on astrobiology, this would be it. ... Read more

Product Description

Key Message: Life in the Universe takes readers on a journey through the solar system and beyond, using a rigorous yet accessible introduction to astronomy, biology, chemistry, and geology to explain natural phenomena and explore unanswered scientific questions. The Second Edition has been thoroughly revised to include updated scientific discoveries, optional quantitative coverage, an enhanced illustration program, and expanded coverage of the solar system and stellar material. Key Topics: Introducing Life in the Universe:  A Universe of Life?, The Science of Life in the Universe, The Universal Context of Life. Life on Earth: The Habitability of Earth, The Nature of Life on Earth, The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth. Life in the Solar System: Searching for Life in Our Solar System, Mars, Life on Jovian Moons, The Nature and Evolution of Habitability.   Life Among the Stars: Habitability Outside the Solar System, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox. Epilogue: Contact – Implications of the Search and Discovery Market: For all readers interested in a rigorous yet accessible introduction to astronomy, biology, chemistry, and geology, while exploring fundamental pan-scientific questions such as: How did life begin on Earth? What are the most extreme forms of life currently known? What are the challenges of trying to colonize another planet?

Customer Reviews (5)

loved it
This is a great textbook.The information is up to date and it is very enjoyable to read.

Expensive, but worth it
This is a really expensive paperback, but it should have an honored place in your home, next to your dictionary, your atlas, your Roget's Thesaurus and your Holy Bible, Koran or any other book that is important to you.

Its opening chapter, "A Universe of Life," is awe-inspiring, summoning up as it does the almost-endless, vast reaches of known creation and inviting us to consider how MUCH there is out there that might be home to any form of life --from the submicroscopic to beings, well, something like us (although not much of the book is given over to the latter possibillity).

It tackles the place of religion, too, in all of this -- including Creationism and its offshoots -- and gives you some pretty good reasons for setting aside your feelings and just going along for the scientific ride in this 346-page stunner (plus appendixes).

The artwork is superb. Worth the price of admission by itself.

So, drag out the old credit card and put yourself even deeper into literary debt, because you will return to this book again and again over the years.

A good college text for non-science majors
This book seems to have two goals. One is to teach the reader something about astrobiology. The other is to be a text for a science course for college undergraduates (in most cases, underclassmen majoring in something other than science).

The book begins by discussing how stars and planets are formed. And then comes a major point: biology may be common in the universe given evidence that organic molecules form fairly easily, life appears to have originated early in the Earth's history, and there's evidence that Earth life can survive under a wide range of conditions.Next, there's a section on the nature of science and the scientific method. And then some material on the definition and nature of life. From there we go to the Earth's geological record. And there's a useful discussion of greenhouse gases, possible high surface temperatures on Earth when life first developed, and a possible "Snowball Earth" much later.

Now comes a key chapter: how did life get started? And when. The text shows that it was not all that long after the Earth emerged from forming and being heavily bombarded. And that hyperthermophiles may well have been the common ancestor of life on Earth today. The book speculates that the process was: synthesis of organic precursor molecules, development of replicators (RNA), development of protocells (enclosing membranes), primitive cells (the RNA world), and then DNA-based cells. It also addresses the question of whether life could have migrated to Earth from Mars or elsewhere. There's a discussion of the rise of oxygen in the atmosphere. And how primitive life evolved into the intelligent life that now exists.

These are certainly the right topics to start with. But I wish this book, even with the constraint of being for non-science majors, had gone into just a little more detail on all of them. It does just that on the rest of the topics.

The book continues with an excellent section about possibilities of life elsewhere in our planetary system, including the environmental requirements. We look at Mars (including evidence from Martian meteorites), Jovian moons, and Titan. And we see why Venus is too close to the Sun to be in the "habitable zone."I hope that the next edition of this book, due out in 2006, will mention the Saturnian moon Enceledus as well.

After that, there is a discussion of extrasolar planets and the serach for extraterrestrial intelligence. If anything, there is an excess of material here, including speculations about the possible technology levels of an intelligent society and interstellar travel. But this does lead to a worthwhile discussion of the Fermi paradox: if there are relatively nearby extraterrestrials, why aren't they here by now?

Writing an overview of this field for non-science majors is a daunting task, and I think the authors did a really good job. After reading such a book, I think one will find it much easier to understand any advances made in this field in the future.

A Very Delightful Book
This is the ONE Science Textbook I will keep forever and ever.

A good college text for non-science majors
This book seems to have two goals.One is to teach the reader something about astrobiology.The other is to be a text for a science course for college undergraduates (in most cases, underclassmen majoring in something other than science).

The book begins by discussing how stars and planets are formed.And then comes a major point: biology may be common in the universe given evidence that organic molecules form fairly easily, life appears to have originated early in the Earth's history, and there's evidence that Earth life can survive under a wide range of conditions.

Next, there's a section on the nature of science and the scientific method.And then some material on the definition and nature of life.From there we go to the Earth's geological record.And there's a useful discussion of greenhouse gases, possible high surface temperatures on Earth when life first developed, and a possible "Snowball Earth" much later.

Now comes a key chapter: how did life get started?And when.The text shows that it was not all that long after the Earth emerged from forming and being heavily bombarded.And that hyperthermophiles may well have been the common ancestor of life on Earth today.The book speculates that the process was: synthesis of organic precursor molecules, development of replicators (RNA), development of protocells (enclosing membranes), primitive cells (the RNA world), and then DNA-based cells.It also addresses the question of whether life could have migrated to Earth from Mars or elsewhere.There's a discussion of the rise of oxygen in the atmosphere.And how primitive life evolved into the intelligent life that now exists.

These are certainly the right topics to start with.But I wish this book, even with the constraint of being for non-science majors, had gone into just a little more detail on all of them.It does just that on the rest of the topics.

The book continues with an excellent section about possibilities of life elsewhere in our planetary system, including the environmental requirements.We look at Mars (including evidence from Martian meteorites), Jovian moons, and Titan.And we see why Venus is too close to the Sun to be in the "habitable zone."

After that, there is a discussion of extrasolar planets and the serach for extraterrestrial intelligence.If anything, there is an excess of material here, including speculations about the possible technology levels of an intelligent society and interstellar travel.But this does lead to a worthwhile discussion of the Fermi paradox: if there are relatively nearby extraterrestrials, why aren't they here by now?

Writing an overview of this field for non-science majors is a daunting task, and I think the authors did a really good job.After reading such a book, I think one will find it much easier to understand any advances made in this field in the future. ... Read more

Product Description
From Fossils to Astrobiology reviews developments in paleontology and geobiology that relate to the rapidly-developing field of Astrobiology, the study of life in the Universe. Many traditional areas of scientific study, including astronomy, chemistry and planetary science, contribute to Astrobiology, but the study of the record of life on planet Earth is critical in guiding investigations in the rest of the cosmos.  In this varied book, expert scientists from 15 countries present peer-reviewed, stimulating reviews of paleontological and astrobiological studies.  The overviews of established and emerging techniques for studying modern and ancient microorganisms on Earth and beyond, will be valuable guides to evaluating biosignatures which could be found in the extraterrestrial surface or subsurface within the Solar System and beyond.  This volume also provides discussion on the controversial reports of "nanobacteria" in the Martian meteorite ALH84001.  It is a unique volume among Astrobiology monographs in focusing on fossil evidence from the geological record and will be valuable to students and researchers alike. ... Read more

Product Description
It was in this book (published on 07/23/97) that Dr. Gilbert V. Levin first announced his conclusion that his 1976 Viking Labeled Release (LR) life detection experiment flown on NASA's Viking mission to Mars found living microorganisms in the soil. Shortly afterward Levin presented his results in a scientific paper to the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Optical Engineering in San Diego.

Mars the Living Planet opens with the telling of how curious people became interested in the planet Mars as a world which might harbor some form of life. The book also traces the history of how the science of astronomy and microbiology eventually merged to become the new science known as astrobiology (first called exobiology in the 1960's). The story quickly moves forward to tell the real life story of astrobiologist Dr. Gilbert V. Levin. Levin was the second astrobiologist hand selected by NASA's first Administrator Keith Glennan in 1959 to develop a microbial detection instrument that could look for traces of life on Mars. Levin then went on to work as an scientific investigator on NASA's Mariner 9 Orbiter mission and later with Viking - the first spacecraft ever sent to look for life on another planet. Mars The living Planet details the exciting events that unfolded during the Viking program from the pre-mission testing and on the surface of Mars.

Recently a new scientific paper was published in the Journal ofGeophysical Research with the title "Reanalysis of the Viking resultssuggests perchlorate and organics at mid-latitudes on Mars" by RafaelNavarro-González and a number of co-authors demonstrates that the Viking gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) used to invalidate Levin'sbiology results might have actually found a surprisingly significantamount of organic material in Martian soil at both the Viking 1 andViking 2 landing sites on Mars. This now reopens the door to the results obtained by Levin's Viking Labeled Release experiments on Mars - a door that has been largely closed for 34 years due to the misinterpretationof the Viking GCMS.  A number of newspapers brokethe story September 3rd 2010 about the Navarro-González findings including the New YorkTimes and Washington Post.


Mars The Living Planet - now available on KINDLE. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A landmark in the propagation of conspiracy rumors regarding Mars
A landmark in the propagation of conspiracy rumors regarding modern Mars exploration seems to be the 1997 book by Barry E. Digregorio with Gilbert Levin and Dr. Patricia Ann Straat, 'Mars, The Living Planet' An emphasis of the book is the weight Levin gives to the results of the biology experiments on Viking. I would have liked to have separate chapters by the different authors to better sort out the editorial emphasis of the contributors. Gilbert Levin was a member of the Viking Science Team concerned with the biology experiments, and probably provided the detailed backgrounds and descriptions of the experiments.
Carl Sagan would later say in his talks that the Viking life detection experiments obtained two out of the three positives sought in the methods used in the trio of biology experiments. Levin seems to feel the caution in explaining the behavior of the Martian soil in the Viking biology experiments was excessive. My impression vacillates between someone invoking an image of a persecuted heretic and that of a dogged crusader on the conceivable verge of vindication. In the end who knows? The cause is periodically kept alive with articles like this.(1)
My primary interest in this book is not in the biology experiment results, but in a field I have experience in, the preparation of images for presentation. The more sensational aspects of the book deal with color related issues as they might relate to biological scenarios for what is being seen.

'Mars, The Living Planet' is cited by a few who still represent the dark regions of Mars as being green and alive in willful ignorance of what we have learned since the dawn of the Space Age. The color reproductions in that book are generally terrible and the images are not necessarily accurately described in the captions, confusing and undermining some of the points the authors were trying to make. For instance, color plate 4, which shows a photo mosaic map containing a large elongated dark gray region on Mars, is shown as gray (and upside down) above a caption describing it as blue green with a similar caption error on another such photo map on plate 23. Plate 5 is incorrectly described as part of the first Viking 1 color picture. Plate 6 has nothing to do with the caption below it, the intent seemingly to provide a comparison of the pre and post adjustment color balance of the first picture but instead showing the 'Sun over the shoulder' view of the flag and other painted parts. The first color surface picture is partially shown and correctly attributed on the facing page, on plates 7 and 8, but poorly and luridly reproduced.
Images processed to make the brightest basaltic rock surfaces with less dust appear greenish are cited as evidence for lichen like growths perched on the rocks. The 'changes' cited seem to me more likely to be due to the deposition and removal of dust across the rock surfaces, as was seen on the lander surface during the mission. This is ironically exactly the explanation of the large scale seasonal changes of the large dark regions which were once cited as possible evidence of widespread plant life on Mars. The last color plate, of a reasonably reproduced Hubble Mars image release showing greenish looking dark regions, is used to imply the dark areas are actually green and by implication living. The highest quality Hubble images of Mars made at the 2003 close approach to Earth show the lack of green on Mars.(2) The book reads largely like an appeal for the revival of the vegetation hypothesis of the 'wave of darkening' noted above.

The book also tells the story of the high end CRT monitors at the JPL press area early in the Viking 1 mission displaying the initial attempt at a color picture being manually readjusted by technicians, using the RGB 'brightness knobs'. I suspect this monitor adjustment was an effort to easily correct the color error in the initial print run while a new batch of color photographic prints were being laboriously prepared. Gilbert Levin's 20 year old son Ron then began changing the color adjustments back to the 'Earth like' setting undoing the work of the technicians. Ron was shortly confronted by Viking project head Jim Martin and warned to stop or be thrown out. This is probably the origin of the conspiracy story regarding the supposed NASA efforts to hide an Earth like sky on Mars. Ron Levin was later involved in a fiasco when he ran with a story of water or clear ice being seen on Mars.(3) In support of his recent attempts to establish that liquid water can be found on Mars under the most favorable conditions, he used as evidence a garishly colored photo from the Opportunity rover in an article run on the NewScientist web site (and soon retracted) as evidence for a water pond or smooth clear ice!

This is not a book for people wanting to launch a career in Planetary Science. It ismore of a justification for willful ignorance of accumulated facts regarding Mars, and wishful thinking. There is in reality no attempt to censor an 'Earth like' Mars, nor is there an attempt to sweep evidence of life of any sort 'under the rug'. There is a good deal of caution and high standards applied to evidence that might shed light on the existence of life on other worlds. Caution must be applied to avoid announcing what could under further scrutiny turn out to be a 'false positive', with resulting likely devastation of credibility for the field as well as for individuals.

Don Davis

[...]

It's all just too odd
This whole life on Mars controversy, with this book being just one example, is so thoroughly weird that it actually makes me just a bit suspicious. How could a book get such wildly varying reviews with one alleged authoritative science type saying this is great stuff and another (no less than a former NASA employee) claiming it's total BS and a slam against NASA? It's all so silly, couldn't these experiments be repeated and if they can't why not? Is this guy a scientist who can write a coherent scientific paper or not? Are there questions that need resolving or not?

What makes me suspicious is this:

What if solid evidence for life elsewhere is uncovered? Do we, John and Jane Q. Public, get the story, straight? How do religious fundamentalists and various other kooks react to this news that their deity, or maybe his opposite, was busy elsewhere? What happens when it REALLY SINKS IN what this all means? (What it means is that the once-friendly and comforting night sky slowly becomes a wide-open doorway to the unknown, intelligent life elsewhere becomes a near certainty, curiosity may turn to fear and horror, etc. etc.). Well, they don't know until they make the announcement, do they, so why not sort-of make the announcement now and then to see what happens, maybe to acclimate folks to the idea.

This book and all the circumstances surrounding it are suspicious. What responsible scientist would announce that Martian life has been discovered in a meteorite fragment unless they were 100% certain? Why do we keep getting green lights that invariably switch to red or yellow? Why is eveidence for so many things almost always just barely out of reach?

This is an interesting book but I trust it about as far as I could throw it and not for the reasons many critics offer. I'm seeing too many books like this recently, books about controversial things by people with "credentials." If there isn't something a tad conspiratorial about it all then we've got some serious problem with our modern credential-ling process and that's scarier than finding out Mars has bugs.

Follow the data......
Excellent, well researched book. The case is convincingly made that the Viking LR experiments did indeed detect life in 1976. During the intervening years, mainstream science has dismissed these results as a hypothetical(and never explained/ replicated!)exotic chemical reaction. New data distilled from the original Viking records have even revealed a circadian rythym(independent of thermal effects)to the LR's measured results. Rather than recite a long list of pertinent facts however, let me say this: follow the data. Ignore, discard and reject input from people(even the experts!) who clearly, for whatever reason will not publicly face the facts revealed by the data. If Mars and the possibility of exobiology interests you at all, do your homework, search out the facts..... you will eventually discover a very noticeable..er, dichotomy(to put it politely) between what data is coming in - and the interpreted results anounced by NASA. Why this is - I do not know. It is not conspiracy theorizing to see the obvious; hopefully this book will spur more people to ask hard questions - and at least, eventually settle this debate at some point in time - once and for all.

what is evidence?
Reading this book took me back over the years to the 1976 viking lander life detection experiments.I have a doctorate in cell biology and have worked extensively with cells in culture. Thus, the label release experiments seemed pretty indicative of metabolism in the martian soil sample, hence life. The fact that the uptake of labeled nutrients was prevented if the soil was pre-heated (steralization) was also consistent with life which could be destroyed by heat.These results seemed to be pretty strong indicators of some sort of microbiol presence in the soil.At this point everyone seemed excited.Then came the gas chromatography which failed to detect organic material.The conclusion was immediately reached that the martian soiled contain no life but had an "interesting chemistry".Howver, what we had was conflicting results which usually calls for further experimentation rather than dismissing one set of data out of hand.

Thus I was delighted to see Digregorio et al's book on the library shelves.The authors argue convincingly that the label release experiments were properly done and also points out potential problems with the chromatography experiments which should have been examined more closely. He also discusses other intrigueing observations, such as the presence of green hues on the martian rocks suggesting photosynthetic organisms.Perhaps one of his most telling arguments concerns the use of the word "evidence." Evidence is a set of one one or more observations which support a given hypothesis.Certainly the label release experiments would fall into the category of evidence for life.Furthermore, no one seems to have shown that the experiments leading to these results were flawed.Thus the statement made again and again that the viking lander experiments failed to show evidence of life is wrong.While the authors can't prove conclusively that there is life on Mars, they certainly make a strong case for examining the question further. I would recommend this book strongly to anyone interested in exobiology.

Can a more valuable or relevant book on space be found?
I recently went in person to the largest bookstore in my state,went item by item though the towering shelves of books on astrononyand space, and simply could not find a more worthwhile book on space than Barry DiGregorio's. The amount of detailed and painstakingly compiled information it contains makes even the most highly-touted popular works on space pale by comparison.

More importantly, this book isn't mere space trivia. This is an amazingly clear and thorough look into what will ever remain a major historical even in human history, but even more importantly, this is a rare in-depth look at the background behind one of the most pressing issues of our time.

While Barry's detractors (and there are many, frequently being self-professed "debunkers" lurking the internet, ready to denounce anything and everything, even the works of Nobel nominees whose discoveries weren't part of these detractors' own dated eductions) are demonstrably willing to subject him to the same "pariah process" that has somehow gotten Dr. Levin branded with the "has-been" nonsense that no one who played a participatory role in our historic space exploration would be subjected to had they not embraced ideas that do not conform to the emasculated tastes of their detractors. (For perspective here, imagine the audacity of levelling this same slur of "has-been" at our astronauts simply because they have not flow a mission in decades! They have been, and rightly remain, heroes. The targeting of Levin for this kind of treatment should be a warning sign in itself.)

Disturbingly, what DiGregorio's detractors stand to "gain" is to help obscure the folly of a planned frightening and reckless return of potentially living and potentially virulent material from Mars.

While the plans for this material following landing require it to be considered as and treated as a potential biological hazard, demonstrating that in practice even our space agencies do not embrace the fashionable dismissal of Dr. Levin's viewpoint, we face the paradox that in spite of these concerns and precautions, the planned manner of sample return poses many opportunities for the escape of this material prior to landing.

Particularly now in light of the incompetence implied by the inexplicable loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter (to name only the latest) and the cloud of misinformation that remains to dissipate around the matter, any promises from space agencies that we can be assured of a perfect and safe landing of this material on its way into quarranteen ring particular hollow, and the reckless and unnecessary gamble with human safety becomes even more patently obvious.

Barry's authority and sincerity in the matters of Martian life are readily visible in his involvement with ICAMSR- International Committee Against Mars Sample Return- and I enthusiatically urge everyone to explore these highly important aspects of Barry's career and their appropriate representation on the internet, as well as this most remarkable book.

It is alarming to see what Barry has been subjected to simply for asking for perfectly sensible and perfectly viable alternatives to be employed in order to elimate the risks of a Mars sample return, just as it is to see the tenuous, dated and speculative science that has been used to argue in favor of taking a wholly needless risk.

Knowing something of Barry through his communications on internet forums, where he patiently and deftly demonstrates his sincerity, knowledge, and confident patience in the face of endless juvenile abuses, I am even more impressed to see that rare author who has taken their own work deeply to heart and been willing to consistenly practice exactly what they preach, and go far beyond the call of duty to see that their message is shared.

"Mars: The Living Planet" deserves to be called an essential work in the truest sense of the phrase. No matter what may be said, I encourage everyone to discover this for themselves, as well as Barry's work with ICAMSR. ... Read more

Product Description
Astrobiology–the study of life in space–is one of today’s fastest growing and most popular fields of science. In this compelling, accessible, and elegantly reasoned new book, award-winning scholar and researcher Chris Impey explores the foundations of this rapidly developing discipline, where it’s going, and what it’s likely to find.

The journey begins with the earliest steps of science, gaining traction through the revelations of the Renaissance, including Copernicus’s revolutionary declaration that the Earth was not the center of the universe but simply a planet circling the sun. But if Earth is not the only planet, it is so far the only living one that we know of. In fascinating detail, The Living Cosmos reveals the incredible proliferation and variety of life on Earth, paying special tribute to some of its hardiest life forms, extremophiles, a dizzying array of microscopic organisms compared, in Impey’s wise and humorous prose, to superheroes that can survive extreme heat and cold, live deep within rocks, or thrive in pure acid.

From there, Impey launches into space, where astrobiologists investigate the potential for life beyond our own world. Is it to be found on Mars, the “death planet” that has foiled most planetary missions, and which was wet and temperate billions of years ago? Or on Venus, Earth’s “evil twin,” where it rains sulfuric acid and whose heat could melt lead? (“Whoever named it after the goddess of love had a sorry history of relationships.”) The answer may lie in a moon within our Solar System, or it may be found in one of the hundreds of extra-solar planets that have already been located. The Living Cosmos sees beyond these explorations, and imagines space vehicles that eschew fuel for solar- or even nuclear-powered rockets, all sent by countries motivated by the millions to be made in space tourism.

But The Living Cosmos is more than just a riveting work about experiment and discovery. It is also an affecting portrait of the individuals who have devoted their lives to astrobiology. Illustrated throughout, The Living Cosmos is a revelatory book about a science that is changing our view of the universe, a mesmerizing guide to what life actually means and where it may–or may not–exist, and a stunning work that explains our past as it predicts our future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Interesting Read on Astrobiology
This was definately an interesting read. Impey is not the greatest author, but he is definately readable, and I never felt bored. I saw him give a presentation at a local book festival, and he did a great job. He is a teacher by profession, and definately knows what he is talking about. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about astrobiology.

a real charge for the imagination
This is a great read. As an artist/non-scientist, thumbs up for accessibility! Good background history, but most of all I loved the up-to-date look at current missions to find life on other planets. The last third of the book was best of all, with all the many possibilities laid our virtually before our eyes. Big wide universe, let's go! And just when I didn't want the book to end, a heapful of awesome resources: books, websites, videos etc. Tantalizing stuff, a real charge for the imagination.

"If [other worlds] be inhabited, what a scope for misery and folly.If they not be inhabited, what a waste of space."
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"[Our planet`s] biology is like a pleasant valley that supports a rich biota.We can see how life developed in this valley from the simpler and hardier organisms that live on the high plateaus and rocky peaks.But how do we know it is the best or the only valley?There may be places beyond the horizon that [have an] even more [rich biota] or `lost worlds' with unfamiliar creatures.Similarly, our biology may be one of many possible `solutions' to the evolution of complexity [refers generally to sophistication of genes, metabolic pathways, brain architecture, or functions of an organism].In different physical settings...other solutions may be preferred.Given the limitations of lab biochemistry [the chemistry of life], the answer will come only from astrobiology [the study of life in the universe].Countless realizations of life may already exist in deep space."

The above quotation is called the "biological landscape" which expresses the idea that terrestrial biology is one example of a wide array of potential biologies and not necessarily an optimal solution.It is found in this fascinating, easy-to-read, and sometimes humorous book authored by Chris Impey, a distinguished professor at the University of Arizona and deputy head of one of the largest astronomy departments in the United States.

Note that this book is designed for a reader with little or no background in astronomy.

The book itself is divided into seven parts:

Part 1:HISTORY.That is, the history of how we've come to know our place in the universe.
Parts 2, 3, and 4: LIFE.What we know about the evolution of life on Earth and what we can learn from the diversity and robustness of terrestrial fauna.
Part 5: LIFE in our SOLAR SYSTEM.Discussion of the potential prospects for life in our Solar System.
Part 6: OTHER WORLDS. Considers the exciting new research on planets not of our Solar System.
Part 7: INTELLIGENT LIFE.Examines the potential for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

Recognize that since our knowledge is very modest regarding this topic, then some of the material is speculative.But it is reasoned speculation, not science fiction or fantasy.

To aid in understanding, there are illustrations peppered throughout.When I say illustrations, I mean black and white pictures, artist's impressions, charts, graphs, etc.I found these very beneficial.

Throughout the main narrative you'll find words and terms like these:ALH84001, Allen Array, biobricks, biomarker, cryptobiosis, Dyson sphere, extremophile, habitable zone, Phylogenetic tree, quorum sensing, SETI, TPF, and zoo hypothesis.All these terms and many more are listed and defined in a handy glossary.I used this glossary to define some of the terms in the quotation above.(Note that the title of this review is a quotation by Thomas Carlyle, 1795 to 1881.)

Finally, I did find a few (very few!!) errors in this book such as names being spelled wrong, etc.But these were minor when compared to the vast amount of information and new information presented.

In conclusion, this is truly an astounding book that revolves around three questions:

(1) Is the Earth special?
(2) Is life special?
(3) Are we alone?

(first published 2007;preface;7 parts or 51 sections;main narrative 310 pages;notes;glossary;reading list;media resources;illustration credits;index)

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Outstanding introduction to astrobiology
I have read a number of books on the prospects for extraterrestrial life over the years, and this is one of the best.Here are four other good ones published in recent years:

Darling, David.Life Everywhere: The Maverick Science of Astrobiology (2001
Grinspoon, David.Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life (2003)
Michaud, Michael A.G.Contact with Alien Civilizations (2007)
Webb, Stephen.Where Is Everybody?: Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life (2002)

(See my reviews at Amazon.)

Notwithstanding all this ink, astrobiology is still looking for the first object of its contemplation.But Prof. Impey is not deterred.In this outstanding work he attempts to lay the foundation for this seemingly nescient science by exploring all aspects of life on earth and comparing what he has found to environments in space.What is extraordinary about this book is the sheer breadth of knowledge that Impey displays.More than that though is the enthusiasm he brings to the subject and the readability of his prose.

The Living Cosmos is first a book about life on earth, how it might have begun and how it has evolved, and second on how that knowledge might apply to the larger cosmos.To understand this epic story and what it might imply about life in the universe as a whole it is necessary to have some understanding of many allied sciences including chemistry, geology, physics, ecology, genetics, and many others.In extrapolating what we know about life on earth to the heavens, knowledge of astronomy, cosmology, and mathematics is necessary.It is amazing that Impey is so well vested in all these subjects.Frankly I am dazzled and reminded again of how little I know.

Impey begins with an examination of the scientific approach and how it has led us to know what we know today.Then he examines life's origins, beginning with the birth in the stars of the elements necessary for life (life as we know it, of course!).He follows this with a chapter on "Extreme Life," recent knowledge of which has greatly expanded our ideas about where life might be found, such as under the ice on Europa or under the barren surface of Mars.Chapter 4 is about how the forces of the planet and impacts from outer space have shaped life on earth.Chapter 5 looks at the possibilities for life in our solar system, while Chapter 6 goes to the stars and beyond.Finally in Chapter 7 Impey recalls Fermi's flippant but penetrating question, "Where are they?"and explores the speculations and ideas about extraterrestrial life.He recounts Drake's famous equation in some serious depth and brings us up to date on the latest thinking.

The question arises: why study astrobiology when there is as yet nothing to study, and indeed when there may never be anything to study?This book is in a sense an answer to this question.By looking at life from the point of view of how it might exist elsewhere broadens our understanding of life.By considering how differing and perhaps bizarre environments might affect life--from the surface of a brown dwarf to an interstellar gas cloud to the atmosphere of Jupiter, to the surface of Venus, etc., we gain insight into what life is and what forms it might take.A very real bugaboo for astrobiology is the possibility that we may encounter extraterrestrial life and not recognize it.This book is in part a preparation for that day in the hope that extensive knowledge about how different life can be will help us see life even if it takes on very strange forms.Another problem is how to communicate with alien forms of life.As Impey points out, we haven't a clue how to communicate with an octopus, so how can we expect to talk to E.T.?Just the recognition that these are potential problems is a first step toward solving them.

Impey distinguishes himself not only by the breadth of his knowledge, but through the wit and wisdom of his prose.Here are three examples:

"One extremophile's toxic dump may be another's pleasure palace." (p. 220)

"About 20 percent of [NASA] missions fail completely.This worry leaves most NASA engineers with just enough hair for a bad comb job." (p. 257)

"The debate over the existence of ETs might never be settled by observations, but it certainly can't be settled without them." (pp. 294-295)

This is a handsomely produced book with 29 pages of endnotes, a glossary, a list for further reading sorted by chapter, a list of media resources including web sites, CDs and DVDs, and a useful index.There are many grayscale illustrations and charts throughout the book; however for these old eyes they are a bit on the small side.

I have one small pet peeve.I don't care for the nouveau practice of providing reading lists by chapters.I would prefer a return to the old fashioned bibliography in which all the sources are listed in one place alphabetically by author.As it is here, the reader has to go through each chapter listing looking for a particular author or book.Better yet, have two lists, one by chapter subject matter (as here) and the other a conventional bibliography.

Non-stop reading achieved !
I could not afford to stop reading The Living Cosmos !
Chris, I thank you for hours spent on a brilliant and organized text.
Luiz FC Novaes
Sao Paulo, Brazil ... Read more