Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

From Fossils to Astrobiology

Records of Life on Earth and the Search for Extraterrestrial Biosignatures

  • Book
  • © 2008

Overview

Editors:
  1. Joseph Seckbach

    1. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

    View editor publications

    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. Maud Walsh

    1. School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA

    View editor publications

    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Provides a valuable overview of established and emerging techniques for evaluating modern and ancient microorganisms on Earth and beyond
  • Contains diverse, critical reviews of paleontological and taphonomic studies of life in the Universe

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology (COLE, volume 12)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (26 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxxvi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Geology

    1. Fossils and Fossilization

      1. Nanosims Opens a New Window for Deciphering Organic Matter in Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Samples
        • Dorothy Z. Oehler, François Robert, Smail Mostefaoui, Anders Meibom, Madeleine Selo, David S. Mckay et al.
        Pages 3-23
      2. Disentangling the Microbial Fossil Record in the Barberton Greenstone Belt: A Cautionary Tale
        • Maud M. Walsh, Frances Westall
        Pages 25-37
      3. Looking Through Windows onto the Earliest History of Life on Earth and Mars
        • David Wacey, Nicola Mcloughlin, Martin D. Brasier
        Pages 39-68
      4. Models for Silicate Fossils of Organic Materials in the Astrobiological Context
        • Vera M. Kolb, Patrick J. Liesch
        Pages 69-88
      5. Microfossil Phosphatization and Its Astrobiological Implications
        • Shuhai Xiao, James D. Schiffbauer
        Pages 89-117
      6. Proterozoic Unicellular and Multicellular Fossils from India and Their Implications
        • Vinod Chandra Tewari
        Pages 119-139

    2. Stromatolites, Microbial Mats, and Biofilms

      1. Microbial Communities of Stromatolites
        • Burns P. Brendan, Malcolm R. Walter, Brett A. Neilan
        Pages 143-158
      2. Biosedimentological Processes That Produce Hot Spring Sinter Biofabrics: Examples from the Uzon Caldera, Kamchatka Russia
        • Jessica C. Goin, Sherry L. Cady
        Pages 159-179
      3. Cyanobacterial Mat Features Preserved in the Siliciclastic Sedimentary Record
        • Hubertus Porada, Patrick G. Eriksson
        Pages 181-210
      4. Deciphering Fossil Evidence for the Origin of Life and the Origin of Animals
        • Jonathan Antcliffe, Nicola McLoughlin
        Pages 211-229

  3. Biology

    1. Terrestrial Microbes as Analogs for Life Elsewhere in the Universe

      1. Microorganisms in the Ancient Terrestrial Subsurface – And in Outer Space?
        • Helga Stan-Lotter, Sergiu Fendrihan, Marion Dornmayr-Pfaffenhuemer, Friedrich Gerbl, Andrea Legat, Claudia Gruber et al.
        Pages 233-248
      2. Evidence of Ancient Microbial Life in an Impact Structure and Its Implications for Astrobiology
        • Tomas Hode, Sherry L. Cady, Ilka von Dalwigk, Per Kristiansson
        Pages 249-273
      3. Phylogenomic Dating and the Relative Ancestry of Prokaryotic Metabolisms
        • Carrine E. Blank
        Pages 275-295
      4. Fossil Microorganisms at Methane Seeps: An Astrobiological Perspective
        • Roberto Barbieri, Barbara Cavalazzi
        Pages 297-317
      5. Endoliths in Terrestrial Arid Environments: Implications for Astrobiology
        • Nunzia Stivaletta, Roberto Barbieri
        Pages 319-333
      6. Magnetotactic Bacteria and Their Potential for Terraformation
        • Ioan I. Ardelean, Cristina Moisescu, Dan Razvan Popoviciu
        Pages 335-350

    2. Evolution and Astrobiology

      1. Paleontological Tests: Human-Like Intelligence Is Not a Convergent Feature of Evolution
        • Charles H. Lineweaver
        Pages 353-368
      2. Cosmic Life Forms
        • Attila Grandpierre
        Pages 369-385

  4. Space Sciences

    1. Astronomical and Cosmological Considerations in Astrobiology

      1. Astronomical and Astrobiological Imprints on the Fossil Records: A Review
        • Julian Chela-Flores, Giouanna Jerse, Mauro Messerotti, Claudio Tuniz
        Pages 389-408
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

From Fossils to Astrobiology reviews developments in paleontology and geobiology that relate to the rapidly-developing field of Astrobiology, the study of life in the Universe. Many traditional areas of scientific study, including astronomy, chemistry and planetary science, contribute to Astrobiology, but the study of the record of life on planet Earth is critical in guiding investigations in the rest of the cosmos.  In this varied book, expert scientists from 15 countries present peer-reviewed, stimulating reviews of paleontological and astrobiological studies.  The overviews of established and emerging techniques for studying modern and ancient microorganisms on Earth and beyond, will be valuable guides to evaluating biosignatures which could be found in the extraterrestrial surface or subsurface within the Solar System and beyond.  This volume also provides discussion on the controversial reports of "nanobacteria" in the Martian meteorite ALH84001.  It is a unique volume among Astrobiology monographs in focusing on fossil evidence from the geological record and will be valuable to students and researchers alike.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"This book emphasizes the study of Precambrian paleontology and its implications for investigating extraterrestrial biosignatures. … Largely technical in nature, this fascinating volume … will be of great interest to astrobiologists, planetary astronomers, evolutionary biologists, and paleontologists. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections." (D. A. Brass, Choice, Vol. 46 (9), May, 2009)

"In this book, expert scientists from 15 countries present peer-reviewed, stimulating reviews of paleontological and astrobiological studies. The overviews of established and emerging techniques for studying modern and ancient microorganisms on Earth and beyond will be valuable guides to evaluating biosignatures that could be found in the extraterrestrial surface or subsurface within the solar system and beyond. … It is a unique volume among astrobiology monographs in focusing on fossil evidence from the geological record and will be valuable to students and researchers … ." (Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin, 2009)

Editors and Affiliations

  • The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

  • School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA

    Maud Walsh

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation