With over 500 planets now known to exist beyond the Solar System, spacecraft heading for Mars, and the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence, this timely book explores current ideas about the search for life in the Universe. It contains candid interviews with dozens of astronomers, geologists, biologists, and writers about the origin and range of terrestrial life and likely sites for life beyond Earth. The interviewees discuss what we've learnt from the missions to Mars and Titan, talk about the search for Earth clones, describe the surprising diversity of life on Earth, speculate about post-biological evolution, and explore what contact with intelligent aliens will mean to us. Covering topics from astronomy and planetary science to geology and biology, this book will fascinate anyone who has ever wondered 'Are we alone?'
Author(s): Chris Impey
Edition: 1
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 418
Tags: Биологические дисциплины;Астробиология;
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
Part I: Introduction......Page 13
1 Timothy Ferris......Page 15
2 Iris Fry......Page 25
3 Steven Dick......Page 34
4 Ann Druyan......Page 43
5 Pinky Nelson......Page 53
6 Neil deGrasse Tyson......Page 62
7 Steven Benner......Page 70
8 William Bains......Page 81
Part II: Earth......Page 91
9 Roger Buick......Page 93
10 Lynn Rothschild......Page 105
11 John Baross......Page 114
12 Joe Kirschvink......Page 124
13 Andrew Knoll......Page 135
14 Simon Conway Morris......Page 146
15 Roger Hanlon......Page 155
16 Lori Marino......Page 166
Part III: Solar System......Page 177
17 Chris McKay......Page 179
18 David Grinspoon......Page 190
19 Jonathan Lunine......Page 200
20 Carolyn Porco......Page 209
21 Laurie Leshin......Page 219
22 Guy Consolmagno......Page 229
23 Peter Smith......Page 241
Part IV: Exoplanets......Page 253
24 Alan Boss......Page 255
25 Geoff Marcy......Page 266
26 Debra Fischer......Page 276
27 Sara Seager......Page 286
28 David Charbonneau......Page 296
29 Vikki Meadows......Page 305
Part V: Frontiers......Page 315
30 Jill arter......Page 317
31 Seth Shostak......Page 328
32 Ray Kurzweil......Page 338
33 Nick Bostrom.......Page 349
34 Paul Davies......Page 359
35 Martin Rees......Page 368
36 Ben Bova......Page 378
37 Jennifer Michael Hecht......Page 389
Glossary......Page 398
Part II Earth......Page 407
Part IV Exoplanets......Page 408
Part V Frontiers......Page 409
Index......Page 410
