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The Crowded Universe: The Search for Living Planets
We are nearing a turning point in our quest for life in the universe—we now have the capacity to detect Earth-like planets around other stars. But will we find any? In The Crowded Universe, renowned astronomer Alan Boss argues that based on what we already know about planetary systems, in the coming years we will find abundant Earths, including many that are indisputably alive. Life is not only possible elsewhere in the universe, Boss argues—it is common. Boss describes how our ideas about planetary formation have changed radically in the past decade and brings readers up to date on discoveries of bizarre inhabitants of various solar systems, including our own. America must stay in this new space race, Boss contends, or risk being left out of one of the most profoundly important discoveries of all time: the first confirmed finding of extraterrestrial life. .
Price: $17.16
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Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life (Cambridge Astrobiology)
Several major breakthroughs in the last decade have helped contribute to the emerging field of astrobiology Focusing on these developments, this fascinating book explores some of the most important problems in this field. It examines how planetary systems formed, and how water and the biomolecules necessary for life were produced. It then focuses on how life may have originated and evolved on Earth. Building on these two themes, the final section takes the reader on a search for life elsewhere in the Solar System. It presents the latest results of missions to Mars and Titan, and explores the possibilities of life in the ice-covered ocean of Europa. This interdisciplinary book is an enjoyable overview of this exciting field for students and researchers in astrophysics, planetary science, geosciences, biochemistry, and evolutionary biology. Colour versions of some of the figures are available at www.cambridge.org/9780521875486..
Price: $108.15
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Terraforming: The Creating of Habitable Worlds (Astronomers' Universe)
This book proposes a sound and realistic exploration on the topic of terraforming Often used as the narrative premise in science fiction novels, terraforming is the process by which an uninhabitable planet might be converted into one capable of supporting life. This book presents what is physically possible today and hints what might conceivably be put into practice in the next several hundred years. The author works within the realms of current technology and known physics, although speculation on future advancements inevitably enters the discussion. Introductory chapters establish why terraforming will be of great benefit to human kind, and also put in place the basic physical arguments necessary to the terraforming process. The following parts look at various proposals that have been made for terraforming the planets Mars and Venus. The book concludes with a glimpse to the much deeper future when humankind will explore and colonize the outer solar system and possibly the newly discovered exoplanets. .
Price: $19.77
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Earth: Evolution of a Habitable World (Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series)
This is an outstanding overview of the history of the Earth from a unique planetary perspective for introductory courses in the earth sciences The book approaches Earth history as an evolution, encompassing the origin of the cosmos through the inner working of living cells. Earth: Evolution of a Habitable World tells how the Earth has come to its present state, why it differs from its neighboring planets, what life's place is in Earth's history, how humanity affects the processes that make our planet livable, and contemplates human influences in the context of natural changes on Earth. This book brings a fresh perspective to the study of the Earth for students who wish to learn how our planet evolved to its present form..
Price: $51.07
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Is Mars Habitable?
Alfred Russel Wallace OM, FRS (1823 -1913) was a British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist and biologist He did extensive fieldwork first in the Amazon River basin, and then in the Malay Archipelago He is best known for independently proposing a theory of natural selection which prompted Charles Darwin to publish his own more developed theory sooner than intended. Wallace was considered the 19th century's leading expert on the geographical distribution of animal species and is sometimes called the "father of biogeography". He advocated spiritualism and believed in a non-material origin for the higher mental faculties of humans. He was also a social activist and was thus critical of what he considered to be an unjust social and economic system in 19th century Britain. His The Malay Archipelago became one of the most popular journals of scientific exploration of the 19th century. His other substantial works include Darwinism, (1889)and Is Mars Habitable? (1907)..
Price: $8.96
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Habitable Planets for Man
Habitable Planets for Man examines and estimates the probabilities of finding planets habitable to man, where they might be found, and the number there may be in our own galaxy. The author presents in detail the characteristics of a planet that can provide an acceptable environment for humankind, itemizes the stars nearest the earth most likely to possess habitable planets, and discusses how to search for habitable planets. Interestingly for our time, he also gives an appraisal of the earth as a planet and describes how its habitability would be changed if some of its basic properties were altered. This is a reprint of an edition originally published in 1964..
Price: $24.50
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