Astrobiology: An Introduction

This third edition of Kevin W. Plaxco and Michael Gross's widely acclaimed Astrobiology incorporates a decade's worth of new developments in space to bring readers the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and engaging introduction to the field available. It examines the factors that make our Universe habitable, explores life in extreme habitats, and assesses the limits for life elsewhere, weaving together cosmology, astrophysics, geology, biochemistry, biophysics, and microbiology.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 416 pages
\n Publication date: 03 August 2021
\n Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
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Astrobiology is a fascinating field that explores the potential for life beyond Earth and the origins of our own planet. In this comprehensive introduction, updated with the latest findings, scientists are shedding light on the possibility of life outside our biosphere, informed by the discoveries and analyses of extrasolar planets and robotic missions across the solar system. The third edition of Kevin W. Plaxco and Michael Gross's widely acclaimed Astrobiology incorporates a decade's worth of new developments in space, providing readers with the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and engaging introduction to the field available.

Plaxco and Gross delve into the factors that make our Universe habitable, from the origin of chemical elements and the formation of galaxies and stars to the birth and composition of planets. They explore the latest thinking about the origins of life, explain the evolution of metabolism, and showcase the development of complex organisms. Additionally, they examine life in extreme habitats and shed light on how these environments inform the search for potential extraterrestrial habitats.

New and updated illustrations enhance the book throughout, sharing fascinating findings from the comet mission Dawn, the historic visit of New Horizons to Pluto, and the groundbreaking work of the Deep Carbon Observatory, which has revealed an incredible underground biosphere within our own planet.

Plaxco and Gross seamlessly weave together cosmology, astrophysics, geology, biochemistry, biophysics, and other disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of astrobiology. This third edition is a valuable resource for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the search for life beyond Earth and the mysteries of our own planet.

\n Weight: 698g\n
Dimension: 267 x 667 x 33 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781421441283\n
Edition number: third edition\n