Goldilocks and the Water Bears - Softcover

Louisa Preston

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1472920104 ISBN 13: 9781472920102

Publisher: Bloomsbury Sigma, 2016

Synopsis

As inhabitants of planet Earth, our next logical move is to break free of the confines of the Earth and colonize another body in the solar system, such as the Moon or Mars. How and when will we do this? Or is it all just science fiction? These questions, in a nutshell, make up the core of astrobiology--the study of the origins and evolution and biology of life elsewhere in the universe, and the search for it. This book provides an introduction to this astro-science, asking, "Are we alone in the universe?"

About this title

About the Author

Louisa Preston is an astrobiologist, planetary geologist and unashamed lover of water bears. Her research focuses on places on Earth in which life is able to survive despite extreme conditions; such habitats provide clues on what alien life-forms might look like, and where we should search for them. Having worked on projects for NASA and the Canadian, European and UK Space Agencies, the only thing Louisa enjoys more than devising ways to find extra-terrestrial life is writing and talking about it. She has published numerous articles and academic papers, and regularly appears on radio and television shows, such as the BBC's The Sky at Night. She is a TED fellow, and spoke about the search for life on Mars at the 2013 TED Conference. Louisa has spent most of her life in one of two Londons - one in Ontario, and one in the UK - but she currently lives with husband, son and cat in Kent. Goldilocks and the Water Bears is her first book. @LouisaJPreston

Language Notes

All life as we know it is carbon-based and reliant on sources of liquid water and energy for its survival; it is also, of course, known from just one planet: the Earth, a world perfectly suited to host life. But across a universe of at least 100 billion habitable, earthlike worlds, life cannot be restricted to just this one place. Or can it?
The Earth is just the right distance from the sun - within the so-called 'Goldilocks zone' - and has a protective shielding atmosphere to allow for life to thrive. Life's journey in four billion years from single-celled organism to upright humanoids with the capacity to undertake missions to other planets is remarkable.
But there is a chance that life exists (or existed) elsewhere in the solar system, and recent discoveries of just how common planets are in other systems means it is highly likely that life does indeed occur on other planets.
How might life appear on these other worlds? It is possible to make best guesses using facts rooted in physics, chemistry and biology and by studying 'extremophiles' - organisms, such as nematodes and water bears, that can survive in the harshest conditions that Earth can offer.
Ultimately we need to figure out what is next for humanity. Our logical move is to break free of the confines of the Earth and colonise another body in the solar system, such as the moon or Mars. How and when will we do this? Or is it all just science fiction? These questions, in a nutshell, make up the core of astrobiology - the study of the origins, evolution and biology of life elsewhere in the universe - and the search for it.
This audiobook is an accessible introduction to this most fascinating of all the astrosciences. Are we alone in the universe? Goldilocks and the Water Bears looks at this and many other questions as the search for life elsewhere in the universe goes on.

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About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Sigma
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1472920104
• ISBN 13: 9781472920102
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288