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Habitability of the Universe before Earth: Astrobiology: Exploring Life on Earth and Beyond (series) examines the times and places-before life existed on Earth-that might have provided suitable environments for life to occur, addressing the question: Is life on Earth de novo, or derived from previous life? The universe changed considerably during the vast epoch between the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago and the first evidence of life on Earth 4.3 billion years ago, providing significant time and space to contemplate where, when and under what circumstances life might have arisen. No other book covers this cosmic time period from the point of view of its potential for life. The series covers a broad range of topics encompassing laboratory and field research into the origins and evolution of life on Earth, life in extreme environments and the search for habitable environments in our solar system and beyond, including exoplanets, exomoons and astronomical biosignatures.--

Exobiology. --- Habitable planets. --- Astrobiology --- Biology --- Habitable planets --- Life --- Earth-like planets --- Earthlike planets --- Extrasolar planets --- Exobiology --- Origin

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What is life and where can it exist? What searches are being made to identify conditions for life on other worlds? If extraterrestrial inhabited worlds are found, how can we explore them? In this book, two leading astrophysicists provide an engaging account of where we stand in our quest for habitable environments, in the Solar System and beyond. Starting from basic concepts, the narrative builds scientifically, including more in-depth material as boxed additions to the main text. The authors recount fascinating recent discoveries from space missions and observations using ground-based telescopes, of possible life-related artefacts in Martian meteorites, extrasolar planets, and subsurface oceans on Europa, Titan and Enceladus. They also provide a forward look to future missions. This is an exciting, informative read for anyone interested in the search for habitable and inhabited planets, and an excellent primer for students in astrobiology, habitability, planetary science and astronomy.

Life on other planets. --- Exobiology. --- Habitable planets. --- Earth-like planets --- Earthlike planets --- Extrasolar planets --- Exobiology --- Astrobiology --- Biology --- Habitable planets --- Life --- Extraterrestrial life --- Planets --- Fermi's paradox --- Origin --- Outer space --- Solar system --- Exploration. --- Exploration

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Given the fundamental importance of and universal interest in whether extraterrestrial life has developed or could eventually develop in our solar system and beyond, it is vital that an examination of planetary habitability goes beyond simple assumptions such as, "Where there is water, there is life." This book has resulted from a workshop at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern, Switzerland (5-9 September 2005) that brought together planetary geologists, geophysicists, atmospheric scientists, and biologists to discuss the multi-faceted problem of how the habitability of a planet co-evolves with the geology of the surface and interior, the atmosphere, and the magnetosphere. Each of the six chapters has been written by authors with a range of expertise so that each chapter is itself multi-disciplinary, comprehensive, and accessible to scientists in all disciplines. These chapters delve into what life needs to exist and ultimately to thrive, the early environments of the young terrestrial planets, the role of volatiles in habitability, currently habitable (but possibly not inhabited) geologic environments, the connection between a planet's inner workings and the habitability of its surface, and the effects on planetary atmospheres of solar evolution and the presence or absence of a magnetosphere. This book serves as a useful reference for those who plan missions that will hunt for biomarkers (especially on Mars), for biologists and geoscientists who seek a broader view of the story, and for researchers and upper level students interested in an in-depth review of the geologic evolution of terrestrial planets, from their cores to their magnetospheres, and how that evolution shapes the habitability of the planetary surface.

Planets --- Habitable planets. --- Life on other planets. --- Geology. --- Extraterrestrial life --- Fermi's paradox --- Earth-like planets --- Earthlike planets --- Extrasolar planets --- Exobiology --- Planetary geology --- Astrogeology --- Astrophysics. --- Astrobiology. --- Planetology. --- Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics). --- Planetary sciences --- Planetology --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Physics --- Astrobiology --- Biology --- Habitable planets --- Life --- Origin --- Space sciences. --- Science and space --- Space research --- Cosmology --- Science

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"Ever since Carl Sagan first predicted that extraterrestrial civilizations must number in the millions, the search for life on other planets has gripped our imagination. Is Earth so rare that advanced life forms like us - or even the simplest biological organisms - are unique to the universe? How to Find a Habitable Planet describes how scientists are testing Sagan's prediction, and demonstrates why Earth may not be so rare after all." "James Kasting has worked closely with NASA in its mission to detect habitable worlds outside our solar system, and in this book he introduces readers to the advanced methodologies being used in this extraordinary quest. He addresses the compelling questions that planetary scientists grapple with today: What exactly makes a planet habitable? What are the signatures of life astronomers should look for when they scan the heavens for habitable worlds?" "In providing answers, Kasting explains why Earth has remained habitable despite a substantial rise in solar luminosity over time, and why our neighbors, Venus and Mars, haven't. If other Earth-sized planets endowed with enough water and carbon are out there, he argues, chances are good that some of those planets sustain life. Kasting describes the efforts under way to find them, and predicts that future discoveries will profoundly alter our view of the universe and our place in it."--BOOK JACKET

Habitable planets. --- Exobiology. --- 551 --- 551 General geology. Meteorology. Climatology. Historical geology. Stratigraphy.Paleogeography. --- General geology. Meteorology. Climatology. Historical geology. Stratigraphy.Paleogeography. --- Astrobiology --- Biology --- Habitable planets --- Life --- Earth-like planets --- Earthlike planets --- Extrasolar planets --- Exobiology --- General geology. Meteorology. Climatology. Historical geology. Stratigraphy.Paleogeography --- Origin

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The solar system has a rather well-known history. Looking at the present situation, one might get the impression that it was a rather stable and well-defined system: the orbits of the planets appear to be stable, climate and atmospheres on the planets have been determined, the risk of collision with other bodies (comets, asteroids, meteorites) seems to be small. However it is known today that the evolution of life on Earth was neither a steady progression nor uniform. There were several periods of mass extinction. These catastrophic events played a crucial role in the rise of new species. Events of astrophysical origin include: • Asteroid impacts • Major solar variabilty (space weather) • Nearby supernovae • The passage of the solar system through dense interstellar clouds Catastrophic cosmic events of this type appear in the range of some 100 million years. The author discusses whether and how such events could have occurred in the solar system as well as in recently found extrasolar planetary systems. In this text, which addresses readers in the field of Astrophysics and Astrobiology but also Geophysics and Biology these cosmic catastrophic events are described at an intermediate student's level.

Astrophysics. --- Life on other planets. --- Natural disasters. --- Habitable planets --- Exobiology --- Natural disasters --- Catastrophes (Geology) --- Astrophysics --- Life on other planets --- Astronomy & Astrophysics --- Biology --- Physical Sciences & Mathematics --- Health & Biological Sciences --- Biology - General --- Habitable planets. --- Exobiology. --- Extraterrestrial life --- Astronomical physics --- Natural calamities --- Astrobiology --- Earth-like planets --- Earthlike planets --- Physics. --- Planetology. --- Space sciences. --- Astrobiology. --- Climate change. --- Radiation protection. --- Radiation --- Astrophysics and Astroparticles. --- Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Sciences. --- Climate Change. --- Effects of Radiation/Radiation Protection. --- Safety measures. --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Physics --- Planets --- Fermi's paradox --- Historical geology --- Disasters --- Life --- Extrasolar planets --- Origin --- Climatic changes. --- Environmental protection. --- Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics). --- Changes, Climatic --- Changes in climate --- Climate change --- Climate change science --- Climate changes --- Climate variations --- Climatic change --- Climatic changes --- Climatic fluctuations --- Climatic variations --- Global climate changes --- Global climatic changes --- Climatology --- Climate change mitigation --- Teleconnections (Climatology) --- Planetary sciences --- Planetology --- Environmental quality management --- Protection of environment --- Environmental sciences --- Applied ecology --- Environmental engineering --- Environmental policy --- Environmental quality --- Environmental aspects --- Radiation—Safety measures. --- Radiation monitoring --- Radiation protection --- Science and space --- Space research --- Cosmology --- Science --- Global environmental change