Barrie Jones addresses the question ‘are we alone?’, which is one of the mostfrequently asked questions by scientists and non-scientists alike. In The Search for Life Continued, this question is addressed scientifically, and the author is not afraid to include speculation. Indeed, the author believes beyond reasonable doubt that we are not alone and this belief is based firmly on frontier science of the most imaginative kind. The author concentrates on planetarysystems beyond our own but starts with life on Earth, which is the only life we know to exist, and which provides guidance on how best to search for life elsewhere. Planets are the most likely abode of life and so we start the quest with the search for planets beyond the Solar System – exoplanets. The methods of searching are outlined and the nature of the 150-odd exoplanetary systems so far discovered described. In the near future we expect to discover habitableEarth-like planets. But are they actually inhabited? How could we tell? All will be revealed. First single up-to-date book aimed at the reading public covering exoplanetary systems and their properties Explains how the search for life on planets around other stars is being carried out Demonstrates how life on earth can show us how best to search for life elsewhere Describes all current methods used to search for extrasolar planets and extraterrestrial intelligence INDICE: The essential quest.- Life on Earth.- The origin & evolution of life on Earth.- The Solar System, and potential habitats beyond it.- Searching for extrasolar planets – direct methods.- Searching for extrasolar planets – indirect methods.- Extrasolar planetary systems, known and unknown.- Findinglife on exoplanets.- Extraterrestrial intelligence.- What might the aliens look like?.- Glossary.- Further reading and other resources.- Index.
- ISBN: 978-0-387-76557-0
- Editorial: Springer
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 300
- Fecha Publicación: 01/07/2008
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés