Other Worlds: The Search for Life in the Universe

A senior science writer for Time magazine reports on the current state of knowledge regarding the possibility of life beyond Earth. He describes the search for life within our solar system and the discovery over the past few years of planets orbiting other stars. He also profiles the people working in the field. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

When the discoveries of the first-confirmed extra-solar planets and evidence for ancient life in a meteorite from Mars were announced within six months of each other in 1996, a spate of titles on the subject of life in the universe became inevitable. Fortunately, this "work of journalism rather than... scholarship," as described by Lemonick (The Light at the Edge of the Universe), senior science writer at Time, favors careful reporting over sensationalism, conveying extraordinarily well both the excitement and the challenge of the famous Drake Equation, which makes a concise mathematical prediction of the number of intelligent, communicating civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy. Lemonick explores the Drake Equation term by term, describing in clear and engrossing detail both the human and scientific stories of the technological wizards, like San Francisco State scientists Geoff Marcy and Paul Butler, whose work has taken us to the edge of discovery of other Earth-like worlds, using spectroscopy, the projected NGST (Next Generation Space Telescope) and other innovative technologies and methodologies. Although cautious readers may argue with Lemonick's prediction that we may have proof within a decade or two of life on other planets, few would dispute the power of his energetic work to carry readers to the frontier of scientific knowledge, technological creativity and human curiosity.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The senior science writer for Time summarizes current scientific evidence for the presence of life beyond Earth. Lemonick (The Light at the Edge of the Universe, 1993) begins with three brief portraits of scientists engaged in various research projects: the detection of planets around other stars, the chemical analysis of a Martian meteorite, and SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) itself. These ``snapshots'' of working scientists humanize Lemonick's subject, allowing him very effectively to present technical material without losing the reader. This is very much an asset, for much of the material is not only technical but comparatively familiar. We learn again of Giordano Bruno's espousal of multiple life-bearing worlds, for which the Church burned him at the stake; of the Greek philosophers on whom Bruno drew; of the astronomical revolution led by Copernicus and Galileo. The ``Drake equation,'' which attempts to quantify the possibility of life and of advanced civilizations elsewhere in the universe, is clearly explained, as are the various (still mostly speculative) factors on which its solution is contingent. The current view of the planets of own solar system makes most of them look increasingly inhospitable to life (despite possible life traces in that Martian meteor). But around the end of WWII it became clear that planet formation was probably a more common event than had been previously believed. That set off attempts to find such planets. One series of careful observations involving nearby Barnard's Star apparently suggested planetary companions; alas, the data turned out to be an artifact of the astronomer's equipment. But more sophisticated equipment and techniques have in the last few years identified planets around several other stars in our galaxy. This gives the true believers in SETI hopes that the elusive signal from E.T. may yet come. A vivid, clearly written account of cutting-edge science that should appeal to general audiences. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Lemonick surveys the scientists and the science involved in the topic that most energizes popular interest in astronomy: the possibility of life beyond Earth. The topic is now more interesting than ever because of the solid facts about planets orbiting nearby stars, and, closer to home, the frenzy about life on Mars or the Jovian moon Europa. Recently the discovery of the planets was revisited in two quality book-length presentations (Planet Quest by Ken Croswell and Worlds Unnumbered by Donald Goldsmith ); Lemonick covers the same ground but with a better journalistic eye for the scientists, their careers, quirks, and dedication. Allowed access to their labs and observatories, the author writes in tactile detail of what he sees, and plainly conveys the reasoning supporting astronomers' inferential methods. Bracketed by chapters on the Drake Equation, which abstractly estimates the odds of extraterrestrial life, and on future NASA missions, Lemonick's exposition will surely fire minds taken by the question of physicist Paul Davies' book Are We Alone? (1995). Gilbert Taylor

Of the half dozen or so books published last year on the possibilities of extraterrestrial life, Lemonick's is the broadest and most entertaining. He is especially vivid when describing the personalities of leading researchers and their dedication to this quest.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.