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: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 416 pages
\n Publication date: 03 August 2021
\n Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
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Astrobiology is a field that explores the potential for life beyond Earth, as well as the origins of our own planet. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines the study of astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and geology to understand the conditions necessary for life to exist in the universe. In this comprehensive introduction to astrobiology, updated with the latest findings, scientists are replacing centuries of speculation about potential extraterrestrial habitats with real knowledge about the possibility of life outside our own biosphere.

Informed by the discoveries and analyses of extrasolar planets and the findings from recent robotic missions across the solar system, scientists are rapidly replacing centuries of speculation about potential extraterrestrial habitats with real knowledge about the possibility of life outside our own biosphere. The biggest questions, such as how did we get here and who else might be out there, are being addressed in this third edition of Kevin W. Plaxco and Michael Gross's widely acclaimed Astrobiology.

Plaxco and Gross examine the factors that make our Universe habitable, from the origin of chemical elements and the formation of the first galaxies and stars to the birth and composition of the planets. They describe the latest thinking about the origins of life, explain the evolution of metabolism and the development of complex organisms. In order to assess the chances for life elsewhere, they also explore life in extreme habitats and reveal how it informs the search for potential extraterrestrial habitats—ones that might support extraterrestrial life.

New and updated illustrations enhance the book throughout. Sharing fascinating findings from the comet mission Dawn, the visit of New Horizons to Pluto, and the work of the Deep Carbon Observatory, which has revealed an incredible underground biosphere within our own planet, Plaxco and Gross weave together cosmology, astrophysics, geology, biochemistry, biophysics, and other fields to provide a comprehensive understanding of astrobiology.

Astrobiology is a rapidly evolving field that has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and our place in it. By exploring the potential for life beyond Earth and the origins of our own planet, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of the universe and the possibilities for life to exist elsewhere.

\n Weight: 582g\n
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 32 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781421441290\n
Edition number: third edition\n