Talking about life
Subtitle: conversations on astrobiology
By: [edited by] Chris Impey
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 408
ISBN-13: 9780521514927
Subjects: Origin; Astronomers; Life; Exobiology; Biologists; Interviews; Geologists
Description: "With over 350 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?'"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 395-397) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction. Timothy Ferris ; Iris Fry ; Steven Dick ; Ann Druyan ; Pinky Nelson ; Neil deGrasse Tyson ; Steve Benner ; William Bains; title: Earth. Roger Buick ; Lynn Rothschild ; John Baross ; Joe Kirschvink ; Andrew Knoll ; Simon Conway Morris ; Roger Hanlon ; Lori Marino; title: Solar system. Chris McKay ; David Grinspoon ; Jonathan Lunine ; Carolyn Porco ; Laurie Leshin ; Guy Consolmagno ; Peter Smith; title: Exoplanets. Alan Boss ; Geoff Marcy ; Debra Fischer ; Sara Seager ; David Charbonneau ; Vikki Meadows; title: Frontiers. Jill Tarter ; Seth Shostak ; Ray Kurzweil ; Nick Bostrom ; Paul Davies ; Martin Rees ; Ben Bova ; Jennifer Michael Hecht.