Astrobiology is a very broad interdisciplinary field covering the origin, evolution, distribution, and destiny of life in the universe, as well as the design and implementation of missions for solar system exploration. A review covering its complete spectrum has been missing at a level accessible even to the non-specialist.
The last section of the book consists of a supplement, including a glossary, notes, and tables, which represent highly condensed `windows' into research ranging from basic sciences to earth and life sciences, as well as the humanities.
These additions should make The New Science of Astrobiology accessible to a wide readership: scientists, humanists, and the general reader will have an opportunity to participate in one of the most rewarding activities of contemporary culture.
Author(s): Julian Chela-Flores (auth.)
Series: Cellular Origin and Life in Extreme Habitats 3
Edition: 1
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 253
Tags: Astronomy, Observations and Techniques; Life Sciences, general; Earth Sciences, general; Chemistry/Food Science, general; Humanities, general
Front Matter....Pages i-1
Front Matter....Pages 3-3
Introduction: What is Astrobiology?....Pages 5-10
From cosmic to chemical evolution....Pages 13-28
From chemical to prebiotic evolution....Pages 29-36
Sources for life’s origin: A search for biogenic elements....Pages 37-52
From prebiotic evolution to single cells....Pages 55-66
Front Matter....Pages 67-67
From the age of prokaryotes to the origin of eukaryotes....Pages 69-78
Eukaryogenesis and evolution of intelligent behavior....Pages 79-86
Front Matter....Pages 87-88
On the possibility of biological evolution on Mars....Pages 91-102
On the possibility of biological evolution on Europa....Pages 103-116
On the possibility of chemical evolution on Titan....Pages 117-128
How different would life be elsewhere?....Pages 131-138
The search for the evolution of extraterrestrial intelligent behavior....Pages 139-148
Is the evolution of intelligent behavior universal?....Pages 149-156
Deeper implications of the search for extraterrestrial life....Pages 159-166
Philosophical implications of the search for extraterrestrial civilizations....Pages 167-174
Back to the beginning of astrobiology....Pages 175-184
Recapitulation....Pages 185-186
Back Matter....Pages 187-253
