Overview
- Focuses on the revolutionary event of exoplanets - detection, characteristics and possibilities for life
- Presents the history of SETI as well as new research and methods being used for detection and communication
- Addresses philosophical questions about the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life and how to explain the Fermi paradox
Part of the book series: Astronomers' Universe (ASTRONOM)
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Table of contents (13 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
Astronomer Peter Linde takes the reader through the story of the search for extraterrestrial life in a captivating and thought-provoking way, specifically addressing the new research that is currently devoted towards discovering other planets with life. He discusses the methods used to detect possible signals from other civilizations and the ways that the space sciences are changing as a result of this new field. “Are we alone?” is a mystery that has forever fascinated mankind, gaining momentum by scientists since the 1995 discovery of the existence of exoplanets began to inspire new ways of thinking in astronomy. Here, Linde tries to answer many philosophical questions that derive from this area of research: Is humanity facing a change of paradigm, that we are not unique as intelligent beings? Is it possible to communicate with others out there, and even if we can—should we?
Reviews
“The author’s clear, crisp text is complemented by boxes that examine specific topics in more detail, and the book is extensively illustrated with relevant and informative diagrams, images and artist’s impressions. The text is so well-structured that it can be read through from start to finish or dipped into at any point. Informative, thought-provoking, easy and enjoyable to read, this is an altogether excellent book.” (Ian Nicolson, Astronomy Now, July, 2017)
“Linde’s book is a mix of already well-known and new topics, meant for popular-science readers.” (P. Chapman-Rietschi, The Observatory, Vol. 137 (1257), April, 2017)
“In this book the reader gets a first course on different methods that are used in various ways to search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and planets that might be suitable for life. The book gives a wide overview of for example SETIresearch with radio telescopes, the techniques employed there, and what are the results so far. … The Hunt for Alien Life is a great book for finding out more about the background of exoplanet research. It's detailed and well-written.” (AstroMadness.com, December, 2016)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Hunt for Alien Life
Book Subtitle: A Wider Perspective
Authors: Peter Linde
Series Title: Astronomers' Universe
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24118-0
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-24116-6Published: 10 February 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-24118-0Published: 02 February 2016
Series ISSN: 1614-659X
Series E-ISSN: 2197-6651
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVI, 385
Number of Illustrations: 13 b/w illustrations, 133 illustrations in colour
Additional Information: Original Swedish edition published by Karavan Förlag, Lund, 2013
Topics: Popular Science in Astronomy, Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics), Astrobiology