Life in the universe
Subtitle: expectations and constraints
By: Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Louis N. Irwin
Contributors: Irwin, Louis N.
Edition: 2nd ed.
Series: Advances in astrobiology and biogeophysics; Advances in astrobiology and biogeophysics
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Berlin; London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 251
ISBN-13: 9783540768166; 9783540768173
Subjects: Life (Biology); Ausserirdisches Leben; Life on other planets
Description: Energy, chemistry, solvents, and habitats - the basic elements of living systems - define the opportunities and limitations for life on other worlds. This study examines each of these parameters in crucial depth and makes the argument that life forms we would recognize may be more common in our solar system than many assume. They seek an operational definition of life and investigate the realm of possibilities that nature offers to realize this very special state of matter and avoid scientific jargon wherever possible to make this intrinsically interdisciplinary subject understandable to a broad range of readers."--B.
Notes: Previous ed.: 2004.

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Definition of life; title: Origin of life; title: Lessons from the history of life on earth; title: Energy sources and life; title: Building blocks of life; title: Life and the need for a solvent; title: Habitats of life; title: Ideas of exotic forms of life; title: The future and fate of living systems; title: Signatures of life; title: Life detection; title: past and present; title: Optimizing space exploration.