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• Title:From dying stars to the birth of life : the new science of astrobiology and the search for life in the universe / Jerry L. Cranford.
  
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• Author/Creator:Cranford, Jerry Lynn, 1942-
  
• Published/Created:Nottingham : Nottingham University Press, 2011.
  

• Holdings

  Holdings Record Display

  • Location:WOODWARD LIBRARY stacksWhere is this?
    
  • Call Number: QH326 .C73 2011
    
  • Number of Items:1
    
  • Status:Available
    
  • Links:Donor bookplate
    

   
• Library of Congress Subjects:Exobiology.
  
• Medical Subjects: Exobiology
  Biogenesis.
  Extraterrestrial Environment
  
• Description:ix, 237 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 26 cm.
  
• Summary:"The rise of computers and rocket science in the last half of the 20th century allowed scientists to make two amazing discoveries that indicated life may be widespread throughout our universe. In the 1970s, life scientists started finding small bacterial-like creatures living on our planet in extreme hostile environments that everyone believed should instantly kill any living things. Some of these life-forms lived in hot or boiling water that was extremely salty, acidic, or alkaline. A few made their homes inside icebergs, while others lived inside rocks located miles below ground, or even on the power rods of nuclear power plants"--The publisher.
  
• Notes:Includes bibliographical references (pages [225]-228) and index.
  
• ISBN:9781907284793
  
• Contents:Machine generated contents note: I. Computers, Rocket Science, and the Birth of Astrobiology
  Mankind's Obsession with the Idea that we are Not Alone in the Universe
  Brief Overview of What This Book is All About
  II. Our Vast and Hostile Life-Friendly Universe
  Brief History 1 In the Early Days, Seeing was Believing
  Brief History 2 Telescopes and Spectrometers Open Door to Modern Era of Astronomy
  Transition to Instrument Assisted Observations reveals a Universe whose Age, Size, and Complexity Boggles the Minds of Scientists and non-Scientists
  "Big Bang" Theory of the Birth of the Universe
  Formation of the First Stars and the First Galaxies
  Birth, Life, and Death of Stars and Creation of Heavy Atomic Elements Needed to Build Planers and Life
  Construction of Planetary Homes for Life
  III. How Life Works On Planet Earth
  "Definitions of Life" Offered by Life Scientists
  Life on Earth is Packaged inside Small Containers that Resemble Bags or Sacks
  First "Primitive" Single-Celled Organisms
  Modern Single-Celled Organisms that Live and Thrive in Extreme Hostile Environments
  Arrival of Larger "Complex" Single-Cell Organisms
  Explosion of "Complex" Multi-Cellular Life-Forms
  Different Life-Forms on Earth use Different Methods to Feed Themselves
  All Life-forms on Earth Use Same "Chemical Power Generator" to Perform Biological Work
  Every Cell of every Living Organism Contains a Copy of an Instruction Manual which allows the Organism to Replicate Itself
  All Life must Adjust to Short Term Changes in the External Environment plus Undergo Biological Evolution in Response to Long Term Alterations
  IV. How Life and Earth Co-Evolved to Produce a Life-Friendly Biosphere
  Scientists' Mind Boggling Concept of Deep Time
  Hadean Eon Witnessed Gathering of Raw Materials Needed for Birth of life on Earth
  Archean Eon Allowed Life to Quickly Gain Permanent Foothold on Earth
  End of Archean and Beginning of Proterozoic Eon Witnessed important Geological Changes that Dramatically Increased the Pace of Life's Evolution
  Arrival of Oxygen Atmosphere at End of Proterozoic Eon allowed Life to Begin Upgrading to Multi-Cellular Forms
  Phanerozoic Eon Sets Stage for Surge toward "Modern Life-Forms"
  Death of Dinosaurs opens door for "Age of Mammals" and Evolution of Humans
  Role of "Mass Extinctions" in Evolution of Life
  Most Common Forms of External Threats to Evolution and Survival of Life on Planets
  Common Internal Threats to Evolution and Survival of Life on Planets
  Will Mankind be the Source of the Final Mass Extinction of Life on Earth?
  V. Search For Other Worlds and Other Life-Forms
  What kinds of Extraterrestrial Life-Forms should we Search For?
  Searching for Life in the Inner Solar System
  Possibility of Life in Outer Regions of Solar System
  Search for Habitable Worlds beyond our Solar System
  Mankind has the Technology to Detect Earth-like Worlds Orbiting other Stars plus Search for Evidence of Living Inhabitants
  What lands of Evidence for Life will Astrobiologists Search For?
  Which Stars are Likely to Host Life-Friendly Worlds?
  What Kinds of Exoplanets Should We Search For?
  VI. Possibility of Visiting or Communicating with Extraterrestrial Civilizations
  How Feasible is Interstellar Space Travel?
  Searching for Signals Sent by Intelligent Extraterrestrials or Physical Objects left behind by ET
  Enigma of the Flying Saucers (UFOs)
  What it is about the UFO Phenomenon that might make it worth Scientific Investigation
  VII. Some Final Thoughts from the Author
  Why has Science not Obtained Evidence for Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life?
  Are Intelligent Life-Forms Vulnerable to their Primal Emotional Natures?.