The Nature of Life and Its Potential to Survive
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Beschreibung
This book looks at the persistence of life and how difficult it would be to annihilate life, especially a species as successful as humanity. The idea that life in general is fragile is challenged by the hardiness of microbes, which shows that astrobiology on exoplanets and other satellites must be robust and plentiful. Microbes have adapted to virtually every niche on the planet, from the deep, hot biosphere, to the frigid heights of the upper troposphere.
Life, it seems, is almost indestructible. The chapters in this work examine the various scenarios that might lead to the extermination of life, and why they will almost always fail. Life's highly adaptive nature ensures that it will cling on no matter how difficult the circumstances.Scientists are increasingly probing and questioning life's true limits in, on and above the Earth, and how these limits could be pushed elsewhere in the universe. This investigation puts life in its true astronomical context, with the reader taken on a journey to illustrate life's potential and perseverance.
This book looks at the persistence of life and how difficult it would be to annihilate life, especially a species as successful as humanity. The idea that life in general is fragile is challenged by the hardiness of microbes, which shows that astrobiology on exoplanets and other satellites must be robust and plentiful. Microbes have adapted to virtually every niche on the planet, from the deep, hot biosphere, to the frigid heights of the upper troposphere.
Life, it seems, is almost indestructible. The chapters in this work examine the various scenarios that might lead to the extermination of life, and why they will almost always fail. Life's highly adaptive nature ensures that it will cling on no matter how difficult the circumstances.
Scientists are increasingly probing and questioning life's true limits in, on and above the Earth, and how these limits could be pushed elsewhere in the universe. This investigation puts life in its true astronomical context, with the reader taken on a journey to illustrate life's potential and perseverance.
Presents a unique view of life as an evolutionary process based on some fundamental, universal laws that govern chemistry, biology, and other sciences Clarifies some of the ideas with examples and illustrations Informs and enlightens those readers who are eager to explore current topics in astronomy and astrobiology but may not have technical knowledge or interest in mathematics
Autor*in
David S. Stevenson
Themen in »The Nature of Life and Its Potential to Survive«
Human survival in extreme circumstances Conditions in which life can survive Exobiology and life on earth Indestructability of life How microbes adapt to survive Is life likely to survive habitable zone Goldilocks zone
Stimmen zu »The Nature of Life and Its Potential to Survive«
“This book is part of Springer’s Astronomer’s Universe series and is an excellent read for anyone having broad interests. The author writes fluently with a light touch, making for an enjoyable read … . Each chapter ends with a conclusion and references, and the book with a Glossary and Index. The breadth and depth of the coverage, weaving together geology, chemistry, and biology, make for a strong recommendation.” (Peredur Williams, The Observatory, Vol. 138 (1267), December, 2018)
“Stevenson, a scholar with a range of expertise, including molecular biology, genetics, and planetary science, combines these disciplines in a fascinating study of the perseverance of life. The book examines the intricacies of genetics, including how life could have begun from simple chemical processes and evolved to its present complexity–having expanded to fill an incredible variety of ecological niches. … Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above.” (M. K. Cleaveland, Choice, Vol. 55 (9), May, 2018)
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