Life in the Universe (Frontiers in Space) - Hardcover

Angelo Jr, Joseph A

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0816057761 ISBN 13: 9780816057764

Publisher: Facts on File, 2007

Synopsis

Human interest in the origins of life and the possibility of life on other planets extends far back into antiquity. Throughout history, each society's creation myth reflected that particular people's view of the extent of the universe and their place within it. Today, due to advances in space technology, the scope of those early perceptions has expanded well beyond the reaches of our solar system to the stars, vast interstellar clouds, and numerous galaxies that populate the seemingly infinite expanse of outer space. Life in the Universe provides a Space Age examination of the basic question: Is life, especially intelligent life, unique to Earth?This volume prepares readers for some of the revelations that space technology may yield this century by discussing the historic events, scientific principles, and technical developments that allow sophisticated robot exploring machines to visit faraway worlds in the solar system as they hunt for signs of life - existent or extinct. This book's special collection of illustrations includes historic, contemporary, and future life-hunting robot spacecraft, allowing readers to appreciate the tremendous aerospace engineering progress that ha

About this title

About the Author:

JOSEPH A. ANGELO, JR., a retired U.S. Air Force officer (lieutenant colonel), is currently a consulting futurist and technical writer. He has a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the University of Arizona and served as a nuclear research officer in the U.S. Air Force (1967-1987) in a variety of scientific positions involving nuclear weapons development and nuclear treaty monitoring. He is also an adjunct professor in the College of Engineering at Florida Tech, specializing in nuclear radiation protection and waste management. Dr. Angelo is the author of 15 other technical books, including Space Technology (Greenwood, 2003) and Space Nuclear Power (co-authored with David Buden).

From Booklist:

Volumes in the Frontiers in Space set look at the history of human exploration beyond Earth’s atmosphere and the search for intelligent life in the universe. As a set, Frontiers in Space aims to improve science and math literacy by using space technology to introduce students to mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science principles. These discussions of space technology also introduce twenty-first-century career options for today’s students. Each volume contains a standard, matching introduction to the set and then a volume-specific introduction. Life in the Universe discusses the history, scientific principles, and technical developments that allow “sophisticated robot exploring machines” to visit outer space and search for signs of intelligent life. Topics include hunting for life on Mars, extraterrestrial contamination, messages sent into space, and the consequences of contact. Chapters in each volume contain capsule biographies, sidebars that clarify important concepts, inquiry questions and answers, and recommended activities. Each volume concludes with a set chronology, a volume-specific glossary, further-reading resources (books and Web sites, compiled by subject), and an index. Black-and-white photographs, charts, and illustrations are also included, although color illustrative material would increase the marketability to the target audience. Students and browsers alike will find that these well-written and comprehensible titles provide thorough presentations of the specific concepts and the possibilities for the future. A high-priority purchase for high schools and for public libraries that serve populations needing materials on the topic. Grades 9-12. --Shauna Yusko

About this edition

• Publisher: Facts on File
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0816057761
• ISBN 13: 9780816057764
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 338