The Search for Life on Other Planets Bruce Jakosky University of Colorado Price: AUD$49.95
Status Available
Bindings: Paperback Date of Publication: 15/10/1998 Bibliographic Description: 1998 247 x 174 mm 336pp 73 line diagrams 64 half-tones
Does life exist on other planets? This topical book presents the scientific basis for thinking there may be life elsewhere in the Universe. It is the first to cover the entire breadth of recent exciting discoveries, including the discovery of planets around other stars and the possibility of fossil life in meteorites from Mars. Suitable for the general reader, this authoritative book avoids technical jargon and is well illustrated throughout. It covers all the major topics, including the origin of life on Earth, the possibility of life elsewhere in our Solar System, the occurrence of planets around other stars and their habitability, and the possibility of intelligent extraterrestrial life.
Contents 1. The search for life in the universe; 2. Impacts, extinctions, and the earliest history of life on Earth; 3. The history of the Earth; 4. The Earth´s geological record and the earliest life; 5. Energy and life in unique environments on Earth; 6. Origin of life on Earth; 7. Requirements for extraterrestrial life; 8. Is life on Mars possible?; 9. Possible fossil life in meteorites from Mars; 10. Implanting life on Mars; 11. The exobiology of Venus; 12. Titan - a natural exobiology laboratory?;Key Features
Includes latest scientific discoveries about planets around other stars, the analysis of meteorites from Mars, and results from the Mars Pathfinder
Written for the general reader
Also suitable as text for increasingly widespread, very popular courses on origin of life, extraterrestrial life, exobiology, or bioastron
`I will provide the bottom line up-front: basically, this book is a must have. It is inexpensive, timely and in a class of one - currently there are no alternative texts which cover the same ground in such detail ... this book is highly recommended and one you should buy for your own personal collection.´ Ian P. Wright, Astronomy and Geophysics
