Comets And The Origin Of Life

Author : Paul J. Thomas
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3540330887
Total Pages : 359 pages
Book Rating : 4.82/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Comets and the Origin and Evolution of Life written by Paul J. Thomas and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-08-29 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume considers the role comets may have played in the origins and evolution of life. This is the only book dealing in depth with this subject. It is particularly relevant in light of recent investigations of Halley's comet, of new insights into organic synthesis in meteorites and comets, and of new results of numerical simulations of cometary orbits and impacts on Earth. The book is intended as a comprehensive review of current research.

Author : Paul J. Thomas
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1475726880
Total Pages : 302 pages
Book Rating : 4.86/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Comets and the Origin and Evolution of Life written by Paul J. Thomas and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A look at the role comets may have played in the origins and evolution of life, particularly in light of recent investigations of Halleys comet, new insights into organic synthesis in meteorites and comets, and new results of numerical simulations of cometary orbits and impacts on Earth. This is a comprehensive review of current research, accessible to graduate students and others new to the field. Each chapter was prepared by an expert in the field, and carefully revised by the editors for uniformity in style and presentation.

Author : Cyril Ponnamperuma
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9400985282
Total Pages : 276 pages
Book Rating : 4.85/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Comets and the Origin of Life written by Cyril Ponnamperuma and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The return of Halley's Cornet in 1986 has generated much ex citement in the scientific community with preparations already afoot for an International Cornet Watch and a cornet launch by the European Space Community, the Japanese and Soviet Space Scientists. The meet ing held at the University of Maryland in October 1980 was primarily stimulated by the preparations for further study of this cornet and by one of the most important unanswered questions related to comets, name ly, whether they may have made a eontribution to the origin of life on earth. Our un"derstanding of the role of comets in the origin of life must necessarily come from our studies of the astronomy and the chem istry of comets. Some clues to the processes which led to the for mation of organic molecules and eventually to the appearance of life have come from these studies of comets, perhaps the most ancient of all objects in our solar system. Whether there is, however, a biology of comets still remains to be seen, although some claims have been made that perhaps comets might themselves provide an environment for even the beginnings of life. Scientists with the latest available information on comets and differing opinions as to the role of comets in the origin of life attended this symposium. The formal papers presented are now being made available to the students of chemical evolution within the pages of this volume.

Author : Cyril Ponnamperuma
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9789027713186
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.89/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Comets and the Origin of Life written by Cyril Ponnamperuma and published by Springer. This book was released on 1981-08-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The return of Halley's Cornet in 1986 has generated much ex citement in the scientific community with preparations already afoot for an International Cornet Watch and a cornet launch by the European Space Community, the Japanese and Soviet Space Scientists. The meet ing held at the University of Maryland in October 1980 was primarily stimulated by the preparations for further study of this cornet and by one of the most important unanswered questions related to comets, name ly, whether they may have made a eontribution to the origin of life on earth. Our un"derstanding of the role of comets in the origin of life must necessarily come from our studies of the astronomy and the chem istry of comets. Some clues to the processes which led to the for mation of organic molecules and eventually to the appearance of life have come from these studies of comets, perhaps the most ancient of all objects in our solar system. Whether there is, however, a biology of comets still remains to be seen, although some claims have been made that perhaps comets might themselves provide an environment for even the beginnings of life. Scientists with the latest available information on comets and differing opinions as to the role of comets in the origin of life attended this symposium. The formal papers presented are now being made available to the students of chemical evolution within the pages of this volume.

Author : Ana I. Gomez de Castro
Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 0128191716
Total Pages : 178 pages
Book Rating : 4.12/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Ultraviolet Astronomy and the Quest for the Origin of Life written by Ana I. Gomez de Castro and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2021-03-27 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ultraviolet Astronomy and the Quest for the Origin of Life addresses the use of astronomical observations in the ultraviolet range to better understand the generation of complex, life-precursor molecules. The origin of RNA is still under debate but seems to be related to the generation of pools of complex organic molecules submitted to heavy cycles of solution in water and drying. This book investigates whether these cycles require a planetary surface or may occur in space by examining both the theoretical and observational aspects of the role of UV radiation in the origin of life. This book offers the latest advances in these studies for astronomers, astrobiologists and planetary scientists. Addresses both the theoretical and observational aspects of the role of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the origin of life Builds on the requirements to produce prebiotic molecules in space and the implications for the origin of RNA Investigates the use of ultraviolet observations related to planetary system formation, the evolution of young planetary disks, and the interaction of stars with planetary atmospheres

Author : Janaki Wickramasinghe
Publisher : World Scientific Publishing Company Incorporated
ISBN 13 : 9789812566355
Total Pages : 221 pages
Book Rating : 4.5X/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Comets and the Origin of Life written by Janaki Wickramasinghe and published by World Scientific Publishing Company Incorporated. This book was released on 2010 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The idea that comets may be connected with the origin of life on Earth was considered heresy a few decades ago, with scientists shying away from this possibility as if from a medieval superstition. However the case that comets may have contributed at least the complex organic building blocks of life has become very strong, and mechanisms have now been identified whereby comets may incubate and transfer microbial life from one cosmic habitat to another in the Galaxy. The latter process cometary panspermia was pioneered by the late Sir Fred Hoyle and one of the present authors in the early 1980's. A theory that was once controversial is slowly gaining scientific respectability and support.The recent surge of interest in astrobiology has led to a spate of books in astrobiology -- combining astronomy and biology -- but in most of these, cometary panspermia is dealt with only cursorily. The present book sets out the case for cometary panspermia in a cogent way, combining evidence from space science, celestial mechanics, geology and microbiology. It should be an essential part of any university course on astrobiology, and also serve as a reference textbook for researchers in the field.

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309042461
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.68/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Search for Life's Origins written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1990-02-01 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The field of planetary biology and chemical evolution draws together experts in astronomy, paleobiology, biochemistry, and space science who work together to understand the evolution of living systems. This field has made exciting discoveries that shed light on how organic compounds came together to form self-replicating molecules-the origin of life. This volume updates that progress and offers recommendations on research programs-including an ambitious effort centered on Mars-to advance the field over the next 10 to 15 years. The book presents a wide range of data and research results on these and other issues: The biogenic elements and their interaction in the interstellar clouds and in solar nebulae. Early planetary environments and the conditions that lead to the origin of life. The evolution of cellular and multicellular life. The search for life outside the solar system. This volume will become required reading for anyone involved in the search for life's beginnings-including exobiologists, geoscientists, planetary scientists, and U.S. space and science policymakers.

Author : Raymond Lyttleton
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1107615615
Total Pages : 199 pages
Book Rating : 4.18/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Comets and Their Origin written by Raymond Lyttleton and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1953 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This 1953 book sets out some observational facts about comets and then accounts for their origin and explains how comet tails are formed.

Author : Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe
Publisher : World Scientific
ISBN 13 : 9814478741
Total Pages : 232 pages
Book Rating : 4.48/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Comets And The Origin Of Life written by Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2009-08-31 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The idea that comets may be connected with the origin of life on Earth was considered heresy a few decades ago, with scientists shying away from this possibility as if from a medieval superstition. However the case that comets may have contributed at least the complex organic building blocks of life has become very strong, and mechanisms have now been identified whereby comets may incubate and transfer microbial life from one cosmic habitat to another in the Galaxy. The latter process cometary panspermia was pioneered by the late Sir Fred Hoyle and one of the present authors in the early 1980's. A theory that was once controversial is slowly gaining scientific respectability and support.The recent surge of interest in astrobiology has led to a spate of books in astrobiology — combining astronomy and biology — but in most of these, cometary panspermia is dealt with only cursorily. The present book sets out the case for cometary panspermia in a cogent way, combining evidence from space science, celestial mechanics, geology and microbiology. It should be an essential part of any university course on astrobiology, and also serve as a reference textbook for researchers in the field.

Author : B. Hoyle
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9401142971
Total Pages : 361 pages
Book Rating : 4.77/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Astronomical Origins of Life written by B. Hoyle and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Living material contains about twenty different sorts of atom combined into a set of relatively simple molecules. Astrobiologists tend to believe that abiotic mater ial will give rise to life in any place where these molecules exist in appreciable abundances and where physical conditions approximate to those occurring here on Earth. We think this popular view is wrong, for it is not the existence of the building blocks of life that is crucial but the exceedingly complicated structures in which they are arranged in living forms. The probability of arriving at biologically significant arrangements is so very small that only by calling on the resources of the whole universe does there seem to be any possibility of life originating, a conclusion that requires life on the Earth to be a minute component of a universal system. Some think that the hugely improbable transition from non-living to living mat ter can be achieved by dividing the transition into many small steps, calling on a so-called 'evolutionary' process to bridge the small steps one by one. This claim turns on semantic arguments which seek to replace the probability for the whole chain by the sum of the individual probabilities of the many steps, instead of by their product. This is an error well known to those bookies who are accustomed to taking bets on the stacking of horse races. But we did not begin our investigation from this point of view.