Science Culture And The Search For Life On Other Worlds

Author : Elijah Joshua
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781548136864
Total Pages : 164 pages
Book Rating : 4.67/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Science, Culture and the Search for Life on Other Worlds written by Elijah Joshua and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-06-12 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores humanity's thoughts and ideas about extraterrestrial life, paying close attention to the ways science and culture interact with one another to create a context of imagination and discovery related to life on other worlds. Despite the recent explosion in our knowledge of other planets and the seeming era of discovery in which we live, to date we have found no concrete evidence that we are not alone. Our thinking about life on other worlds has been and remains the product of a combination of scientific investigation and human imagination shaped by cultural values.

Author : John Traphagan
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9783319417448
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.44/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Science, Culture and the Search for Life on Other Worlds written by John Traphagan and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-09-19 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores humanity’s thoughts and ideas about extraterrestrial life, paying close attention to the ways science and culture interact with one another to create a context of imagination and discovery related to life on other worlds. Despite the recent explosion in our knowledge of other planets and the seeming era of discovery in which we live, to date we have found no concrete evidence that we are not alone. Our thinking about life on other worlds has been and remains the product of a combination of scientific investigation and human imagination shaped by cultural values--particularly values of exploration and discovery connected to American society. The rapid growth in our awareness of other worlds makes this a crucial moment to think about and assess the influence of cultural values on the scientific search for extraterrestrial life. Here the author considers the junction of science and culture with a focus on two main themes: (1) the underlying assumptions, many of which are tacitly based upon cultural values common in American society, that have shaped the ways researchers in astrobiology and SETI have conceptualized the nature of their endeavor and represented ideas about the potential influence contact might have on human civilization, and (2) the empirical evidence we can access as a way of thinking about the social impact that contact with alien intelligence might have for humanity.

Author : John W. Traphagan
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319417452
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.55/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Science, Culture and the Search for Life on Other Worlds written by John W. Traphagan and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-08-26 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores humanity’s thoughts and ideas about extraterrestrial life, paying close attention to the ways science and culture interact with one another to create a context of imagination and discovery related to life on other worlds. Despite the recent explosion in our knowledge of other planets and the seeming era of discovery in which we live, to date we have found no concrete evidence that we are not alone. Our thinking about life on other worlds has been and remains the product of a combination of scientific investigation and human imagination shaped by cultural values--particularly values of exploration and discovery connected to American society. The rapid growth in our awareness of other worlds makes this a crucial moment to think about and assess the influence of cultural values on the scientific search for extraterrestrial life. Here the author considers the junction of science and culture with a focus on two main themes: (1) the underlying assumptions, many of which are tacitly based upon cultural values common in American society, that have shaped the ways researchers in astrobiology and SETI have conceptualized the nature of their endeavor and represented ideas about the potential influence contact might have on human civilization, and (2) the empirical evidence we can access as a way of thinking about the social impact that contact with alien intelligence might have for humanity.

Author : Bruce M. Jakosky
Publisher : University of Arizona Press
ISBN 13 : 0816526133
Total Pages : 162 pages
Book Rating : 4.30/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Science, Society, and the Search for Life in the Universe written by Bruce M. Jakosky and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2006-10-26 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Are we alone in the universe? As humans, are we unique or are we part of a greater cosmic existence? What is lifeÕs future on Earth and beyond? How does life begin and develop? These are age-old questions that have inspired wonder and controversy ever since the first people looked up into the sky. With todayÕs technology, however, we are closer than ever to finding the answers. Astrobiology is the relatively new, but fast growing scientific discipline that involves trying to understand the origin, evolution, and distribution of life within the universe. It is also one of the few scientific disciplines that attracts the publicÕs intense curiosity and attention. This interest stems largely from the deep personal meaning that the possible existence of extraterrestrial life has for so many. Whether this meaning relates to addressing the ÒBig QuestionsÓ of our existence, the possibility of encountering life on other planets, or the potential impact on our understanding of religion, there is no doubt that the public is firmly vested in finding answers. In this broadly accessible introduction to the field, Bruce Jakosky looks at the search for life in the universe not only from a scientific perspective, but also from a distinctly social one. In lucid and engaging prose, he addresses topics including the contradiction between the publicÕs fascination and the meager dialogue that exists between those within the scientific community and those outside of it, and what has become some of the most impassioned political wrangling ever seen in government science funding.

Author : Douglas A. Vakoch
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3642359833
Total Pages : 387 pages
Book Rating : 4.35/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Astrobiology, History, and Society written by Douglas A. Vakoch and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-05-23 with total page 387 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses important current and historical topics in astrobiology and the search for life beyond Earth, including the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). The first section covers the plurality of worlds debate from antiquity through the nineteenth century, while section two covers the extraterrestrial life debate from the twentieth century to the present. The final section examines the societal impact of discovering life beyond Earth, including both cultural and religious dimensions. Throughout the book, authors draw links between their own chapters and those of other contributors, emphasizing the interconnections between the various strands of the history and societal impact of the search for extraterrestrial life. The chapters are all written by internationally recognized experts and are carefully edited by Douglas Vakoch, professor of clinical psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies and Director of Interstellar Message Composition at the SETI Institute. This interdisciplinary book will benefit everybody trying to understand the meaning of astrobiology and SETI for our human society.

Author : Andrew May
Publisher : Icon Books
ISBN 13 : 1785783432
Total Pages : 114 pages
Book Rating : 4.32/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Astrobiology written by Andrew May and published by Icon Books. This book was released on 2019-09-05 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extraterrestrial life is a common theme in science fiction, but is it a serious prospect in the real world? Astrobiology is the emerging field of science that seeks to answer this question. The possibility of life elsewhere in the cosmos is one of the most profound subjects that human beings can ponder. Astrophysicist Andrew May gives an expert overview of our current state of knowledge, looking at how life started on Earth, the tell-tale 'signatures' it produces, and how such signatures might be detected elsewhere in the Solar System or on the many 'exoplanets' now being discovered by the Kepler and TESS missions. Along the way the book addresses key questions such as the riddle of Fermi's paradox ('Where is everybody?') and the crucial role of DNA and water – they're essential to 'life as we know it', but is the same true of alien life? And the really big question: when we eventually find extraterrestrials, will they be friendly or hostile?

Author : Mark Brake
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 0521491290
Total Pages : 283 pages
Book Rating : 4.97/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Alien Life Imagined written by Mark Brake and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Compelling account of how ideas of alien life have evolved for general readers, amateur astronomers and undergraduate students studying astrobiology.

Author : Jim Al-Khalili
Publisher : Picador USA
ISBN 13 : 1250109639
Total Pages : 242 pages
Book Rating : 4.37/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Aliens written by Jim Al-Khalili and published by Picador USA. This book was released on 2017-05-09 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published in Great Britain by Profile Books Ltd, 2016.

Author : Athena Coustenis
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1107026172
Total Pages : 331 pages
Book Rating : 4.79/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Life Beyond Earth written by Athena Coustenis and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013-09-12 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An engaging account of our quest for habitable environments, recounting fascinating recent discoveries and providing insight into future space missions.

Author : Jaime Green
Publisher : Harlequin
ISBN 13 : 0369700015
Total Pages : 286 pages
Book Rating : 4.18/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Possibility of Life written by Jaime Green and published by Harlequin. This book was released on 2023-04-18 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *An NPR Science Friday Book Club Pick* *A "Next Big Idea Book Club" Must Read?* *A Gizmodo New Release Pick for April* *A BookRiot Science Book to Add to Your TBR* *A Wired Book to Read for Spring* *A TODAY Show Summer Book* *A Washington Post Book to Read This Summer* *One of the Chicago Tribune's 52 Books for Summer 2023* "A dazzling feat of imagination and synthesis."—Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of An Immense World A spellbinding exploration of alien life and the cosmos, examining how the possibility of life on other planets shapes our understanding of humanity One of the most powerful questions humans ask about the cosmos is: Are we alone? While the science behind this inquiry is fascinating, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is a reflection of our values, our fears, and most importantly, our enduring sense of hope. In The Possibility of Life, acclaimed science journalist Jaime Green traces the history of our understanding, from the days of Galileo and Copernicus to our contemporary quest for exoplanets. Along the way, she interweaves insights from science fiction writers who construct worlds that in turn inspire scientists. Incorporating expert interviews, cutting-edge astronomy research, philosophical inquiry, and pop culture touchstones ranging from A Wrinkle in Time to Star Trek to Arrival, The Possibility of Life explores our evolving conception of the cosmos to ask an even deeper question: What does it mean to be human?