How To Find A Habitable Planet

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How to Find a Habitable Planet

Author : James F. Kasting
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 346 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2021-12-07
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781400845088

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How to Find a Habitable Planet by James F. Kasting Pdf

The amazing science behind the search for Earth-like planets Ever since Carl Sagan first predicted that extraterrestrial civilizations must number in the millions, the search for life on other planets has gripped our imagination. Is Earth so rare that advanced life forms like us—or even the simplest biological organisms—are unique to the universe? How to Find a Habitable Planet describes how scientists are testing Sagan's prediction, and demonstrates why Earth may not be so rare after all. James Kasting has worked closely with NASA in its mission to detect habitable worlds outside our solar system, and in this book he introduces readers to the advanced methodologies being used in this extraordinary quest. He addresses the compelling questions that planetary scientists grapple with today: What exactly makes a planet habitable? What are the signatures of life astronomers should look for when they scan the heavens for habitable worlds? In providing answers, Kasting explains why Earth has remained habitable despite a substantial rise in solar luminosity over time, and why our neighbors, Venus and Mars, haven't. If other Earth-sized planets endowed with enough water and carbon are out there, he argues, chances are good that some of those planets sustain life. Kasting describes the efforts under way to find them, and predicts that future discoveries will profoundly alter our view of the universe and our place in it. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of finding other planets like ours—and perhaps even life like ours—in the cosmos. In a new afterword, Kasting presents some recent breakthroughs in the search for exoplanets and discusses the challenges facing space programs in the near future.

How to Build a Habitable Planet

Author : Charles H. Langmuir,Wally Broecker
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 736 pages
File Size : 53,6 Mb
Release : 2012-08-13
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781400841974

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How to Build a Habitable Planet by Charles H. Langmuir,Wally Broecker Pdf

Since its first publication more than twenty-five years ago, How to Build a Habitable Planet has established a legendary reputation as an accessible yet scientifically impeccable introduction to the origin and evolution of Earth, from the Big Bang through the rise of human civilization. This classic account of how our habitable planet was assembled from the stuff of stars introduced readers to planetary, Earth, and climate science by way of a fascinating narrative. Now this great book has been made even better. Harvard geochemist Charles Langmuir has worked closely with the original author, Wally Broecker, one of the world's leading Earth scientists, to revise and expand the book for a new generation of readers for whom active planetary stewardship is becoming imperative. Interweaving physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, and biology, this sweeping account tells Earth’s complete story, from the synthesis of chemical elements in stars, to the formation of the Solar System, to the evolution of a habitable climate on Earth, to the origin of life and humankind. The book also addresses the search for other habitable worlds in the Milky Way and contemplates whether Earth will remain habitable as our influence on global climate grows. It concludes by considering the ways in which humankind can sustain Earth’s habitability and perhaps even participate in further planetary evolution. Like no other book, How to Build a Habitable Planet provides an understanding of Earth in its broadest context, as well as a greater appreciation of its possibly rare ability to sustain life over geologic time. Leading schools that have ordered, recommended for reading, or adopted this book for course use: Arizona State University Brooklyn College CUNY Columbia University Cornell University ETH Zurich Georgia Institute of Technology Harvard University Johns Hopkins University Luther College Northwestern University Ohio State University Oxford Brookes University Pan American University Rutgers University State University of New York at Binghamton Texas A&M University Trinity College Dublin University of Bristol University of California-Los Angeles University of Cambridge University Of Chicago University of Colorado at Boulder University of Glasgow University of Leicester University of Maine, Farmington University of Michigan University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Georgia University of Nottingham University of Oregon University of Oxford University of Portsmouth University of Southampton University of Ulster University of Victoria University of Wyoming Western Kentucky University Yale University

Worlds Beyond Our Own

Author : Sujan Sengupta
Publisher : Springer
Page : 154 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2014-10-28
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783319098944

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Worlds Beyond Our Own by Sujan Sengupta Pdf

This is a book on planets: Solar system planets and dwarf planets. And planets outside our solar system – exoplanets. How did they form? What types of planets are there and what do they have in common? How do they differ? What do we know about their atmospheres – if they have one? What are the conditions for life and on which planets may they be met? And what’s the origin of life on Earth and how did it form? You will understand how rare the solar system, the Earth and hence life is. This is also a book on stars. The first and second generation of stars in the Universe. But in particular also on the link between planets and stars – brown dwarfs. Their atmospheric properties and similarities with giant exoplanets. All these fascinating questions will be answered in a non-technical manner. But those of you who want to know a bit more may look up the relevant mathematical relationships in appendices.

The Goldilocks Zone

Author : Laura La Bella
Publisher : The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
Page : 112 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2015-12-15
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN : 9781499463026

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The Goldilocks Zone by Laura La Bella Pdf

The search for life in other worlds begins with the search for a habitable planet. This book explores the “Goldilocks Zone,” a defined area that is perfect for harboring life in our universe. Readers will find out how scientists are finding habitable planets by using terrestrial and orbiting telescopes to search these regions. Readers will also get to know how extreme zones on Earth are helping scientists redefine their concept of “habitable” and what kind of life we might find. Fascinating full-color photographs and artist renderings from NASA illustrate this fascinating hunt.

Life Beyond Earth

Author : Athena Coustenis,Thérèse Encrenaz
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 331 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2013-09-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781107026179

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Life Beyond Earth by Athena Coustenis,Thérèse Encrenaz Pdf

An engaging account of our quest for habitable environments, recounting fascinating recent discoveries and providing insight into future space missions.

Habitable Planets for Man

Author : Stephen H. Dole
Publisher : Rand Corporation
Page : 158 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2007-09
Category : Science
ISBN : 0833042270

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Habitable Planets for Man by Stephen H. Dole Pdf

Habitable Planets for Man examines and estimates the probabilities of finding planets habitable to man, where they might be found, and the number there may be in our own galaxy. The author presents in detail the characteristics of a planet that can provide an acceptable environment for humankind, itemizes the stars nearest the earth most likely to possess habitable planets, and discusses how to search for habitable planets. Interestingly for our time, he also gives an appraisal of the earth as a planet and describes how its habitability would be changed if some of its basic properties were altered. This is a reprint of an edition originally published in 1964.

Exoplanet Science Strategy

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine,Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences,Board on Physics and Astronomy,Space Studies Board,Committee on Exoplanet Science Strategy
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 187 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2019-01-17
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780309479417

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Exoplanet Science Strategy by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine,Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences,Board on Physics and Astronomy,Space Studies Board,Committee on Exoplanet Science Strategy Pdf

The past decade has delivered remarkable discoveries in the study of exoplanets. Hand-in-hand with these advances, a theoretical understanding of the myriad of processes that dictate the formation and evolution of planets has matured, spurred on by the avalanche of unexpected discoveries. Appreciation of the factors that make a planet hospitable to life has grown in sophistication, as has understanding of the context for biosignatures, the remotely detectable aspects of a planet's atmosphere or surface that reveal the presence of life. Exoplanet Science Strategy highlights strategic priorities for large, coordinated efforts that will support the scientific goals of the broad exoplanet science community. This report outlines a strategic plan that will answer lingering questions through a combination of large, ambitious community-supported efforts and support for diverse, creative, community-driven investigator research.

Origin and Evolution of Earth

Author : National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Earth Sciences and Resources,Committee on Grand Research Questions in the Solid-Earth Sciences
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 150 pages
File Size : 47,9 Mb
Release : 2008-08-04
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780309134309

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Origin and Evolution of Earth by National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Earth Sciences and Resources,Committee on Grand Research Questions in the Solid-Earth Sciences Pdf

Questions about the origin and nature of Earth and the life on it have long preoccupied human thought and the scientific endeavor. Deciphering the planet's history and processes could improve the ability to predict catastrophes like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, to manage Earth's resources, and to anticipate changes in climate and geologic processes. At the request of the U.S. Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Geological Survey, the National Research Council assembled a committee to propose and explore grand questions in geological and planetary science. This book captures, in a series of questions, the essential scientific challenges that constitute the frontier of Earth science at the start of the 21st century.

Exoplanets

Author : Michael E. Summers,James Trefil
Publisher : Smithsonian Institution
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 40,6 Mb
Release : 2017-03-14
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781588345950

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Exoplanets by Michael E. Summers,James Trefil Pdf

The past few years have seen an incredible explosion in our knowledge of the universe. Since its 2009 launch, the Kepler satellite has discovered more than two thousand exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. More exoplanets are being discovered all the time, and even more remarkable than the sheer number of exoplanets is their variety. In Exoplanets, astronomer Michael Summers and physicist James Trefil explore these remarkable recent discoveries: planets revolving around pulsars, planets made of diamond, planets that are mostly water, and numerous rogue planets wandering through the emptiness of space. This captivating book reveals the latest discoveries and argues that the incredible richness and complexity we are finding necessitates a change in our questions and mental paradigms. In short, we have to change how we think about the universe and our place in it, because it is stranger and more interesting than we could have imagined.

Exoplanet Atmospheres

Author : Sara Seager
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 258 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2010-08-02
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781400835300

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Exoplanet Atmospheres by Sara Seager Pdf

Over the past twenty years, astronomers have identified hundreds of extrasolar planets--planets orbiting stars other than the sun. Recent research in this burgeoning field has made it possible to observe and measure the atmospheres of these exoplanets. This is the first textbook to describe the basic physical processes--including radiative transfer, molecular absorption, and chemical processes--common to all planetary atmospheres, as well as the transit, eclipse, and thermal phase variation observations that are unique to exoplanets. In each chapter, Sara Seager offers a conceptual introduction, examples that combine the relevant physics equations with real data, and exercises. Topics range from foundational knowledge, such as the origin of atmospheric composition and planetary spectra, to more advanced concepts, such as solutions to the radiative transfer equation, polarization, and molecular and condensate opacities. Since planets vary widely in their atmospheric properties, Seager emphasizes the major physical processes that govern all planetary atmospheres. Moving from first principles to cutting-edge research, Exoplanet Atmospheres is an ideal resource for students and researchers in astronomy and earth sciences, one that will help prepare them for the next generation of planetary science. The first textbook to describe exoplanet atmospheres Illustrates concepts using examples grounded in real data Provides a step-by-step guide to understanding the structure and emergent spectrum of a planetary atmosphere Includes exercises for students

Alien Oceans

Author : Kevin Hand
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 296 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2021-09-21
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9780691227283

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Alien Oceans by Kevin Hand Pdf

Inside the epic quest to find life on the water-rich moons at the outer reaches of the solar system Where is the best place to find life beyond Earth? We often look to Mars as the most promising site in our solar system, but recent scientific missions have revealed that some of the most habitable real estate may actually lie farther away. Beneath the frozen crusts of several of the small, ice-covered moons of Jupiter and Saturn lurk vast oceans that may have existed for as long as Earth, and together may contain more than fifty times its total volume of liquid water. Could there be organisms living in their depths? Alien Oceans reveals the science behind the thrilling quest to find out. Kevin Peter Hand is one of today's leading NASA scientists, and his pioneering research has taken him on expeditions around the world. In this captivating account of scientific discovery, he brings together insights from planetary science, biology, and the adventures of scientists like himself to explain how we know that oceans exist within moons of the outer solar system, like Europa, Titan, and Enceladus. He shows how the exploration of Earth's oceans is informing our understanding of the potential habitability of these icy moons, and draws lessons from what we have learned about the origins of life on our own planet to consider how life could arise on these distant worlds. Alien Oceans describes what lies ahead in our search for life in our solar system and beyond, setting the stage for the transformative discoveries that may await us.

Life on Mars

Author : David A. Weintraub
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 326 pages
File Size : 49,8 Mb
Release : 2020-11-03
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780691209258

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Life on Mars by David A. Weintraub Pdf

"Does life exist on Mars? The question has captivated humans for centuries, but today it has taken on new urgency. NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars orbit by the 2030s. SpaceX wants to go by 2024, while Mars One wants to land a permanent settlement there in 2032. As we gear up for missions like these, we have a responsibility to think deeply about what kinds of life may already inhabit the planet -- and whether we have the right to invite ourselves in. This book tells the complete story of the quest to answer one of the most tantalizing questions in astronomy. But it is more than a history. Life on Mars explains what we need to know before we go."--From Amazon.com.

Pale Blue Dot

Author : Carl Sagan,Ann Druyan
Publisher : Ballantine Books
Page : 386 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2011-07-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780307801012

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Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan,Ann Druyan Pdf

“Fascinating . . . memorable . . . revealing . . . perhaps the best of Carl Sagan’s books.”—The Washington Post Book World (front page review) In Cosmos, the late astronomer Carl Sagan cast his gaze over the magnificent mystery of the Universe and made it accessible to millions of people around the world. Now in this stunning sequel, Carl Sagan completes his revolutionary journey through space and time. Future generations will look back on our epoch as the time when the human race finally broke into a radically new frontier—space. In Pale Blue Dot, Sagan traces the spellbinding history of our launch into the cosmos and assesses the future that looms before us as we move out into our own solar system and on to distant galaxies beyond. The exploration and eventual settlement of other worlds is neither a fantasy nor luxury, insists Sagan, but rather a necessary condition for the survival of the human race. “Takes readers far beyond Cosmos . . . Sagan sees humanity’s future in the stars.”—Chicago Tribune

Lucky Planet

Author : David Waltham
Publisher : Icon Books Ltd
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2014-05-01
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781848316881

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Lucky Planet by David Waltham Pdf

Science tells us that life elsewhere in the Universe is increasingly likely to be discovered. But in fact the Earth may be a very unusual planet – perhaps the only one like it in the entire visible Universe. In Lucky Planet David Waltham asks why, and comes up with some surprising and unconventional answers. Recent geological, biological, and astronomical discoveries are bringing us closer to understanding whether we might be alone in the Universe, and this book uses these to question the conventional wisdom and suggest, instead, that the Earth may have had ‘four billion years of good weather’ purely by chance. If Earth-like worlds don’t have natural stabilising mechanisms, then intelligent observers such as ourselves will only ever look out onto those rare planets where, like the Earth, all the bad things that could have happened to the climate have fortunately cancelled each other out. So before you prepare to meet the aliens, consider that we are probably alone ...

At the Edge of Time

Author : Dan Hooper
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 248 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2019-11-05
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780691197005

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At the Edge of Time by Dan Hooper Pdf

A new look at the first few seconds after the Big Bang—and how research into these moments continues to revolutionize our understanding of our universe Scientists in the past few decades have made crucial discoveries about how our cosmos evolved over the past 13.8 billion years. But there remains a critical gap in our knowledge: we still know very little about what happened in the first seconds after the Big Bang. At the Edge of Time focuses on what we have recently learned and are still striving to understand about this most essential and mysterious period of time at the beginning of cosmic history. Delving into the remarkable science of cosmology, Dan Hooper describes many of the extraordinary and perplexing questions that scientists are asking about the origin and nature of our world. Hooper examines how we are using the Large Hadron Collider and other experiments to re-create the conditions of the Big Bang and test promising theories for how and why our universe came to contain so much matter and so little antimatter. We may be poised to finally discover how dark matter was formed during our universe’s first moments, and, with new telescopes, we are also lifting the veil on the era of cosmic inflation, which led to the creation of our world as we know it. Wrestling with the mysteries surrounding the initial moments that followed the Big Bang, At the Edge of Time presents an accessible investigation of our universe and its origin.