Goldilocks and the Water Bears: The Search for Life in the Universe'Highly recommended' Financial Times Today we know of only a single planet that hosts life: the Earth. But across a Universe of at least 100 billion possibly habitable worlds, surely our planet isn't the only one which, like the porridge Goldilocks sought, is just right for life? Astrobiologists search the galaxy for conditions that are suitable for life to exist, focusing on similar worlds located at the perfect distance from their Sun, within the aptly named 'Goldilocks Zone'. Such a place might have liquid water on its surface, and may therefore support a thriving biosphere. What might life look like on other worlds? It is possible to make best-guesses using facts rooted in science, and by studying 'extremophiles' – organisms such as the near-indestructible water bears, which can survive in the harshest conditions that Earth, and even space, can offer. Goldilocks and the Water Bears is a tale of the origins and evolution of life, and the quest to find it on other planets, on moons, in other galaxies, and throughout the Universe. |
Contents
Life As We Know | |
How to Create a Planet Fit for Life | |
The Story of Life | |
Alien Worlds on Our Doorstep | |
Everything is Relative | |
Searching the Solar System | |
Other editions - View all
Goldilocks and the Water Bears: The Search for Life in the Universe Louisa Preston No preview available - 2016 |
Goldilocks and the Water Bears: The Search for Life in the Universe Louisa Preston No preview available - 2021 |
Goldilocks and the Water Bears: The Search for Life in the Universe Louisa Preston No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
acids actually alien analogue animals archaea asteroid astrobiology astronauts astronomers atoms bacteria billion years ago biological biosignatures bodies carbon dioxide cells cent chemical chemistry civilisation colonisation comets cosmic cosmos craters created currently dust Earth Earth’s atmosphere Earth’s surface Enceladus energy Europa evolution evolutionary evolved exist ExoMars exoplanets exploration extraterrestrial extreme extremophiles fiction forms fossils galactic Galaxy gas giants geological Goldilocks zone gravity greenhouse habitable environments habitats heat helium here–here human hydrogen hydrothermal vents impact impact craters intelligent Jupiter land light liquid water living organisms Mars Martian Mercury methane microbes miles Milky mission Moon’s NASA’s ocean orbit oxygen photosynthesis piezophiles planetary planets and moons plate tectonics possible potential pressure proteins radiation red dwarf rocks rocky rover Saturn scientists silicon similar Solar System space spacecraft species stars Super-Earths survive tectonics telescope temperatures terrestrial Titan Universe Venus volcanoes water bears