Rare Earth

Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe

By: Peter Douglas Ward, Donald Brownlee

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Paperback | 10 December 2003 | Edition Number 2

At a Glance

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372 Pages

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23 x 15.5 x 2.5

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In November 12, 2002, Dr. John Chambers of the NASA Ames Research Center gave a seminar to the Astrobiology Group at the University of Washington. The audience of about 100 listened with rapt attention as Chambers described results from a computer study of how planetary systems form. The goal of his research was to answer a deceptively simple question: How often would newly forming planetary systems produce Earth-like planets, given a star the size of our own sun? By "Earth-like" Chambers meant a rocky planet with water on its surface, orbiting within a star's "habitable zone. " This not-too-hot and not-too-cold inner region, relatively close to the star, supports the presence of liquid water on a planet surface for hundreds of million of years-the time-span probably necessary for the evolution of life. To answer the question of just how many Earth-like planets might be spawned in such a planetary system, Chambers had spent thousands of hours running highly sophisticated modeling programs through arrays of powerful computers. The results presented at the meeting were startling. The simulations showed that rocky planets orbiting at the "right" distances from the central star are easily formed, but they can end up with a wide range of water content. Earth seems to be quite a gem-a rocky planet where not only can liquid water exist for long periods of time, but where water can be found as a heathy oceanful-not too little and not too much. Our planet seems to reside in a benign region of the Galaxy, where comet and asteroid bombardment is tolerable and habitable-zone planets can commonly grow to Earth size. Such real estate in our galaxy-perhaps in any galaxy-is prime for life. And rare as well.

Industry Reviews

‘...likely to cause a revolution in thinking...’ - The New York Times

‘...[the book] has hit the world of astrobiologists like a killer asteroid...’ - Newsday (New York)

“...a sobering and valuable perspective..’ - Science

‘...a startling new hypothesis...’ - Library Journal

‘..Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee offer a powerful argument... - The Economist

’…provocative, significant, and sweeping...’ - Northwest Science & Technology

’...a stellar example of clear writing...’ - American Scientist

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Engineering & Technology Other Technologies & Applied Sciences Space Science Science Science in General Popular Science Biology, Life Sciences Life Sciences in General Evolution Nature & The Natural World Popular Astronomy & Space

Astronomy, Space & Time Cosmology & The Universe

Preface to the Paperback Edition Preface to the First Edition
Introduction: The Astrobiology Revolution and the Rare Earth Hypothesis Dead Zones of the Universe Rare Earth Factors
Why Life Might Be Widespread in the Universe
Habitable Zones of the Universe
Building a Habitable Earth
Life's First Appearance on Earth
How to Build Animals
Snowball Earth
The Enigma of the Cambrian Explosion
Mass Extinctions and the Rare Earth Hypothesis
The Surprising Importance of Plate Tectonics
The Moon, Jupiter, and Life on Earth
Testing the Rare Earth Hypotheses
Assessing the Odds
Messengers from the Stars
References
Index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Rare Earth

Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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