Search for Life

by Monica Grady

Whether we are alone in the Solar System, Galaxy or Universe is a question that has fascinated humanity since the earliest of times. Before we can begin to search for signs of life, we have to understand life on Earth and how it arose. Only then might we discover evidence that life exists, or has existed beyond the Earth.

From the deepest depths of the ocean floor to the outermost edges of the Galaxy, Monica Grady explores the potential for life. Starting with the key states that lead to the emergence of life on Earth, she then considers Mars, Europa - the water-rich satellite of Jupiter - and Saturn's enigmatic moon Titan as possible niches for life. Finishing with possible future exploration beyond the Solar System, "Search for Life" is richly illustrated with images, from microscopic bacteria to panoramic starscapes of clusters of galaxies, providing a comprehensive introduction to the science of astrobiology.

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, no frippery about little green men on Mars but a serious enquiry into the possibility of life elsewhere in the Solar System, the Milky Way galaxy and beyond. Thought provoking about the conditions for life, what we would classify as life and how we would know if we found it.