Editors:
- A new and exciting interdisciplinary research field. The current ideas are that the origin and evolution of life is strongly connected to Earth and to the Universe as a whole
- 30 top experts in the fields that comprise Astrobiology contributed to this book
- Reflects the state-of-the-art concerning the selected topics and gives a glimpse at the future of exciting research in Astrobiology
Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library (ASSL, volume 305)
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Table of contents (20 chapters)
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Front Matter
About this book
Astrobiology, a new exciting interdisciplinary research field, seeks to unravel the origin and evolution of life wherever it might exist in the Universe. The current view of the origin of life on Earth is that it is strongly connected to the origin and evolution of our planet and, indeed, of the Universe as a whole.
We are fortunate to be living in an era where centuries of speculation about the two ancient and fundamental problems: the origin of life and its prevalence in the Universe are being replaced by experimental science. The subject of Astrobiology can be approached from many different perspectives. This book is focused on abiogenic organic matter from the viewpoint of astronomy and planetary science and considers its potential relevance to the origins of life on Earth and elsewhere.
Guided by the review papers in this book, the concluding chapter aims to identify key questions to motivate future research and stimulate astrobiological applications of current and future research facilities and space missions. Today’s rich array of new spacecraft, telescopes and dedicated scientists promises a steady flow of discoveries and insights that will ultimately lead us to the answers we seek.
Reviews
From the reviews:
"Of the book’s chapters, sixteen are review papers of topics relevant to life’s place on our planet and beyond. … The remaining chapters, mostly about research efforts, refer to the potential for life on Mars and Europa … . Together, the chapters aim to motivate collaborative multidisciplinary research for the framing of questions as to the character and forms of life in the Universe. … the book as a whole is excellent! Recommended." (P.A.L. Chapman-Rietschi, The Observatory, Vol. 125 (1187), 2005)
Editors and Affiliations
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Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands
Pascale Ehrenfreund
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University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
William Irvine
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University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA
Toby Owen
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University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
Luann Becker
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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, USA
Jen Blank
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Naples Observatory, Naples, Italy
John Brucato, Luigi Colangeli
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ENS de Chimie de Paris, Paris, France
Sylvie Derenne
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Bordeaux Observatory, Floirac, France
Anne Dutrey, Didier Despois
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UNAM, México D.F., México
Antonio Lazcano
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LEME, Paris, France
Francois Robert
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Astrobiology: Future Perspectives
Editors: Pascale Ehrenfreund, William Irvine, Toby Owen, Luann Becker, Jen Blank, John Brucato, Luigi Colangeli, Sylvie Derenne, Anne Dutrey, Didier Despois, Antonio Lazcano, … Francois Robert
Series Title: Astrophysics and Space Science Library
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2305-7
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2005
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4020-2304-0Published: 14 July 2004
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4020-2587-7Published: 14 July 2004
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4020-2305-7Published: 05 March 2006
Series ISSN: 0067-0057
Series E-ISSN: 2214-7985
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVI, 518