The Secret Life of the Universe: An Astrobiologist's Search for the Origins and Frontiers of Life

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Ahighly readable, entertaining and mind-expanding readfrom a formidable scientist iNews

A highly informative survey of the current state of astrobiology Literary Review

Over the last few decades, space exploration has revolutionised our understanding of our place in the cosmos. We now know that there are many habitable environments within our solar system. Yet a profound question remains: are we alone in the universe

Nathalie A. Cabrol, leading astrobiologist and director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute, takes us to the frontiers of the search for life. This books odyssey begins by searching for how life began on Earth in order to understand whats necessary for life to exist elsewhere. What role did our moon play And could life on Mars, or another world, have seeded life on Earth

Cabrol continues this dazzling interplanetary tour, illuminating the likeliest places for life in our neighbourhood: Venus, Mars, the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and Pluto. Finally, we seek life beyond our solar system, looking at the recent revolution in the night sky: the realisation that there are millions of exoplanets within our galaxy that could support life.

The Secret Life of the Universeis both a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the latest discoveries and an awe-inspiring exploration of what this means for us as humans on Earth today. Its an exhilarating journey, perfect for anyone who has ever looked up at the stars and wondered what might be out there.

Author Bio

Nathalie A. Cabrolis a French American explorer and astrobiologist and the director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute. She researches habitability and life beyond Earth, develops science exploration strategies for NASA for Mars and Titan, designs robotic field tests, and leads projects in planetary science and astrobiology. Cabrol documents lifes adaptation to extreme environments and the effects of rapid climate change. She has written oversix hundred peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings and has published four books on planetary science. Cabrol also holds the womens world record for free and scuba diving at altitude. Born in France, she lives in California.