Arnold Hanslmeier

Habitability and Cosmic Catastrophes (eBook, PDF)

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

The search for life in the universe is one of the most challenging topics of science. It is not a modern topic at all, since more than 100 years ago, it was speculated that on the Moon, there are oceans and seas; on Venus, there are swamps and also Mars is inhabitated. However, now we have the scienti?c background and the scienti?c tools to answer this question and it is also certain that the answer would have deep imp- cations for our culture, philosophy, and religions. If we ?nd that life has developed on other planets or satellites of giant planets, then this would be the ?nal breakdown of our central position in the universe. But is life a widespread phenomenon? How vulnerable is it to changing conditions and even catastrophic events? These topics will be discussed in this book. If life is in the extreme case a unique phenomenon found only on planet Earth, which seems to be highly unrealistic, then also it is important to discuss how it is adaptable to changing external conditions. Can we survive a cosmic catastrophe? How do these catastrophes change habitability? Which forms of life are more v- nerable? It was mentioned that now science has made great progress to answer such qu- tions. Let us give some examples. In modern biology, in connection with organic chemistry, the origin of life is studied.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Seitenzahl: 248
• Erscheinungstermin: 14. November 2008
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9783540769453
• Artikelnr.: 37369295

Autorenporträt

Dr. Roman Braja (1963) works as astrophysicist at Hvar Observatory, Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Croatia. His current position is Tenured Scientific Advisor. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics and was also Head of Hvar Observatory and President of Croatian Astronomical Society. Dr. Arnold Hanslmeier (1959) works as Professor of computational astrophysics at the Institute of Physics of the University of Graz in Austria. He was also Head of the Department of Astrophysics (IGAM) and Head of the Institute of Astronomy and Institute of Physics. He is also member of the University of Vienna as a lecturer.

Inhaltsangabe

Habitable zones.- Properties and Environments of Life.- Stars and Galaxies.- Planetary Systems.- Catastrophes in Our Solar System?.- Catastrophes in Extrasolar Planetary Systems?.- The Solar Neighborhood.- The Search for Extraterrestrial Life.

Rezensionen

From the reviews:

"Habitability and Cosmic Catastrophes, part of the 'Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics' series, is an interesting read. Hanslmeier ... provides information that spans numerous disciplines, from solar and galactic astrophysics and geology to biology. The book's reach is tremendous: attempting to assess the risk to life from various cosmic catastrophes that range from supernovae to asteroid collisions and almost everything in between. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners." (E. S. Perlman, Choice, Vol. 46 (11), 2009)