Beyond UFOs (eBook)

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Its Astonishing Implications for Our Future

Jeffrey Bennett (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2011
248 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-1-4008-3848-6 (ISBN)

Infos

The quest for extraterrestrial life doesn't happen only in science fiction. This book describes the startling discoveries being made in the very real science of astrobiology, an intriguing new field that blends astronomy, biology, and geology to explore the possibility of life on other planets. Jeffrey Bennett takes readers beyond UFOs to discuss some of the tantalizing questions astrobiologists grapple with every day: What is life and how does it begin? What makes a planet or moon habitable? Is there life on Mars or elsewhere in the solar system? How can life be recognized on distant worlds? Is it likely to be microbial, more biologically complex--or even intelligent? What would such a discovery mean for life here on Earth? Come along on this scientific adventure and learn the astonishing implications of discoveries made in this field for the future of the human race. Bennett, who believes that "e;science is a way of helping people come to agreement,"e; explains how the search for extraterrestrial life can help bridge the divide that sometimes exists between science and religion, defuse public rancor over the teaching of evolution, and quiet the debate over global warming. He likens humanity today to a troubled adolescent teetering on the edge between self-destruction and a future of virtually limitless possibilities. Beyond UFOs shows why the very quest to find alien life can help us to grow up as a species and chart a course for the stars. In a new afterword, Bennett shares the most recent developments in extrasolar research, and discusses how they might further our quest to find alien life.

Autor

Jeffrey Bennett is an astrophysicist, author, and educator. His books include leading college-level textbooks in astrobiology, astronomy, mathematics, and statistics, as well as the award-winning children's book Max Goes to the Moon.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 2.5.2011
• Zusatzinfo: 8 color illus. 25 halftones.
• Verlagsort: Princeton
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Astronomie / Astrophysik
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: abiogenesis • age of the earth • Akatsuki (spacecraft) • alien visitation • Allen Telescope Array • Alpha Centauri • Analogy • archaea • Astrobiology • Astronomer • Astronomy • Atmosphere of Earth • Atmosphere of Mars • Atmosphere of Venus • atomic number • Bacteria • Billion years • biochemist • biologist • Calculation • Carbon dioxide • carl sagan • Cassini–Huygens • Center of mass (relativistic) • chemical reaction • Christiaan Huygens • climate change • Dimmer • Doppler Effect • Drake Equation • dwarf planet • early earth • earth • Earth mass • Earth's orbit • Edwin Hubble • Enceladus • Evolution • Evolutionary pressure • Existence • exoplanet • Extraterrestrial Intelligence • Extraterrestrial Life • Gene • geologist • Giant-impact hypothesis • global warming • Gravity • Greenhouse Effect • Greenhouse Gas • Hubble space telescope • Huygens (spacecraft) • Hydrogen • Hyperthermophile • hypothesis • ICE • Illustration • Interstellar communication • Invention • Jupiter • Life • Life on Mars • light-year • Magnetic field • Many-worlds interpretation • Mars Global Surveyor • Mars Science Laboratory • Martian meteorite • Measurement • Mercury (planet) • Meteorite • methane • Methods of detecting exoplanets • Microorganism • milky way • Mixture • Molecule • naked eye • Nebular hypothesis • nitrogen • nuclear fusion • Nucleic acid sequence • Nucleobase • Observatory • ocean • On the Universe • Opportunity (rover) • Orbit • Orbital Resonance • organic compound • organism • Passenger pigeon • Percival Lowell • photosynthesis • Physical law • planetary habitability • Planetary System • Planetesimal • Plate Tectonics • Potassium-40 • Prediction • Quantity • Radioactive decay • Radiometric dating • Radionuclide • Radio Telescope • Radio Wave • Requirement • result • Runaway greenhouse effect • Science • scientific evidence • Scientist • Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence • self-awareness • Seth Shostak • SETI Institute • Silicon • Solar mass • Solar System • spacecraft • star formation • Star System • Stellar classification • Stromatolite • Subsurface (software) • Technology • telescope • Terrestrial planet • Textbook • Thermostat • Tidal heating • Ultimate fate of the universe • Ultraviolet • Universe • Viking program • volcanism • volcano • Voyager 1 • Water • water vapor • Website • whole genome sequencing • year • Yellowstone National Park
• ISBN-10: 1-4008-3848-7 / 1400838487
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4008-3848-6 / 9781400838486