If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... WHERE IS EVERYBODY?: Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life
In response to Enrico Fermi's famous 1950 question concerning  the existence of advanced civilizations elsewhere, physicist  Webb critically examines 50 resolutions to explain the total  absence of empirical evidence for probes, starships, and  communications from extraterrestrials. He focuses on our Milky Way Galaxy, which to date has yielded no objects or signals that  indicate the existence of alien beings with intelligence and  technology. His comprehensive analysis covers topics ranging  from the Drake equation and Dyson spheres to the panspermia  hypothesis and anthropic arguments. Of special interest are the  discussions on the DNA molecule, the origin of life on Earth,  and the threats to organic evolution on this planet (including  mass extinctions). Webb himself concludes that the "great  silence" in nature probably results from humankind's being the  only civilization now in this galaxy, if not in the entire universe. This richly informative and very engaging book is  recommended for most academic and public library science  collections.H. James Birx, Canisius Coll., Buffalo, NYCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.