Peter D. Ward,
Donald Brownlee
Springer New York
2000e druk, 2003
9780387952895
Rare Earth
Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe
Specificaties
Paperback, 338 blz.
|
Engels
Springer New York |
2000e druk, 2003
ISBN13: 9780387952895
Rubricering
Verwachte levertijd ongeveer 9 werkdagen
Samenvatting
What determines whether complex life will arise on a planet, or even any life at all? Questions such as these are investigated in this groundbreaking book. In doing so, the authors synthesize information from astronomy, biology, and paleontology, and apply it to what we know about the rise of life on Earth and to what could possibly happen elsewhere in the universe. Everyone who has been thrilled by the recent discoveries of extrasolar planets and the indications of life on Mars and the Jovian moon Europa will be fascinated by Rare Earth, and its implications for those who look to the heavens for companionship.
Specificaties
ISBN13:9780387952895
Taal:Engels
Bindwijze:paperback
Aantal pagina's:338
Uitgever:Springer New York
Druk:2000
Inhoudsopgave
Contents Preface to the Paperback Edition Preface to the First Edition Introduction: The Astrobiology Revolution and the Rare Earth Hypothesis Dead Zones of the Universe Rare Earth Factors 1 Why Life Might Be Widespread in the Universe 2 Habitable Zones of the Universe 3 Building a Habitable Earth 4 Life’s First Appearance on Earth 5 How to Build Animals 6 Snowball Earth 7 The Enigma of the Cambrian Explosion 8 Mass Extinctions and the Rare Earth Hypothesis 9 The Surprising Importance of Plate Tectonics 10 The Moon, Jupiter, and Life on Earth 11 Testing the Rare Earth Hypotheses 12 Assessing the Odds 13 Messengers from the Stars References Index