Life as We Do Not Know It: The NASA Search for (and Synthesis of) Alien LifeAn engrossing and revelatory first look at the search for alien life—on Earth and beyond For the past twenty years, Peter Ward has been at the forefront of popular science writing, with books such as the influential and controversial Rare Earth. In Life as We Do Not Know It, Ward, with his signature blend of eloquence, humor, and learned insight, vividly details the latest scientific findings, cutting-edge research, and intrepid new theories on the subject of alien life and the possible extraterrestrial origins of life on Earth. In lucid, entertaining, and bold prose, Peter Ward once again challenges our notions of life on earth (and beyond). |
Contents
What Is Life? | 1 |
What Is Earth Life? | 24 |
Life as We Do Not Know It | 58 |
A Recipe Book of Life | 88 |
The Artificial Synthesis of Life | 119 |
Are There Aliens Already on Earth? | 135 |
Why There May Be Aliens Throughout the Solar System | 142 |
Mercury and Venus | 155 |
Europa | 197 |
Titan | 215 |
Implications Ethics and Dangers | 235 |
Send Paleontologists to Mars and Biochemists to Titan | 247 |
A Forest of Life? | 254 |
Afterword | 257 |
References | 263 |
| 285 | |
Other editions - View all
Life as We Do Not Know It: The NASA Search for (and Synthesis of) Alien Life Peter Ward Limited preview - 2007 |
Life as We Do Not Know It: The NASA Search for (and Synthesis of) Alien Life Peter Ward Limited preview - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
alien alive amino acids ammonia animals Archaea asteroids astrobiology atmosphere bacteria bacterium Benner billion years ago biologists biology black smokers called carbon Carl Sagan cell cellular chapter chemical chemistry CHON cold comets complex composed compounds craters crobes discovery early earth earthlike energy source environment Europa evolution evolutionary evolved exist extinction formation fossils genes genetic genome heat huge hydrogen hydrothermal vents impact Jupiter kind Kirschvink life-form life's liquid living look Mars Martian membrane metabolism meteorite methane microbes minerals mission molecules moon NASA nucleic acids ocean orbit organic molecules origin oxygen panspermia pathways perhaps planet planetary protection plate tectonics potential probe produce proteins protocells radiation recipe replicate ribosomes rock Sagan scientists silicon solar system solvent space spacecraft species stars suggest surface synthesis Szostak temperatures Terroan tion Titan tree universe Venus Viking viral virus viruses volcanic Woese


