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

Paperback
372 Pages

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23 x 15.5 x 2.5

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The sweeping diversity of complex life on Earth, Ward and Brownlee argue, evolved out of an extraordinary set of physical conditions and chance events that would be extremely hard to duplicate--though not impossible. Many planets throughout the vastness of the Universe may be teeming with microbial life, but advancement beyond this stage is very rare. Everyone with an interest in the possible extent of life in the Universe and the nature of life's evolution on our own planet will be fascinated by Rare Earth. "...likely to cause a revolution in thinkinbg..."--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 "...well thought out and intriguing..."--Icarus "...a pleasure for the rational reader ...what good books are all about..."--The Associated Press

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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