Astrobiology : a brief introduction
著者
書誌事項
Astrobiology : a brief introduction
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2021
Third edition
- : hbk
大学図書館所蔵 全1件
注記
Includes bibliographical references and index
Summary: "The book examines the chances of life evolving in the Universe using life on Earth as the only example we know. From the dawn of time to the growing number of exoplanets currently being studied, a wide range of scientific knowledge feeds into the question of where life might exist"-- Provided by publisher
収録内容
- What is life?
- Origins of a habitable universe
- Origins of a habitable planet
- Primordial soup
- The spark of life
- From molecules to cells
- A concise history of life on Earth
- Life on the edge
- Habitable worlds in the solar system and beyond
- The search for ET
内容説明・目次
内容説明
Exploring the potential for extraterrestrial life and the origins of our own planet, this comprehensive introduction to astrobiology is updated with the latest findings.
Informed by the discoveries and analyses of extrasolar planets and the findings from recent robotic missions across the solar system, scientists are rapidly replacing centuries of speculation about potential extraterrestrial habitats with real knowledge about the possibility of life outside our own biosphere-if it exists, and, if so, where. Casting new light on the biggest questions there are-how did we get here, and who else might be out there?-this third edition of Kevin W. Plaxco and Michael Gross's widely acclaimed Astrobiology incorporates a decade's worth of new developments in space to bring readers the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and engaging introduction to the field available.
Plaxco and Gross examine the factors that make our Universe habitable, from the origin of chemical elements and the formation of the first galaxies and stars to the birth and composition of the planets. They describe the latest thinking about the origins of life, explain the evolution of metabolism and the development of complex organisms. In order to assess the limits for life elsewhere, they also explore life in extreme habitats and reveal how it informs the search for potential extraterrestrial habitats-ones that might support extraterrestrial life. New and updated illustrations enhance the book throughout.
Sharing fascinating findings from the comet mission Dawn, the visit of New Horizons to Pluto, and the work of the Deep Carbon Observatory, which has revealed an incredible underground biosphere within our own planet, Plaxco and Gross weave together cosmology, astrophysics, geology, biochemistry, biophysics, and microbiology. From neutron star mergers to the survival skills of tardigrades, this fascinating book is an ideal primer for students or anyone curious about life and the Universe.
目次
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. What Is Life?
Chapter 2. Origins of a Habitable Universe
Chapter 3. Origins of a Habitable Planet
Chapter 4. Primordial Soup
Chapter 5. The Spark of Life
Chapter 6. From Molecules to Cells
Chapter 7. A Concise History of Life on Earth
Chapter 8. Life on the Edge
Chapter 9. Habitable Worlds in the Solar System and Beyond
Chapter 10. The Search for ET
Epilogue
Glossary
Index
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