‘Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution’ by Nick Lane
In Life Ascending, Nick Lane, Honorary Reader at University College London, talks us through what he believes to be the ten greatest inventions of evolution on Earth, and succeeds in making a very convincing case for each one. In deciding which of the multitude of biological innovations to include, Lane explains that he has primarily guided himself by the evolutionary inventions that have not only most revolutionised life on Earth, but also those inventions that have revolutionised the planet itself. The development of oxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria, and the profound shifts in the...
Read More‘Heaven’s Touch’ by James B. Kaler
Grounded on the solid Earth, we often seem disconnected from the skies above, which merely act as a revolving backdrop to the dramas of everyday life. In Heaven’s Touch, James B. Kaler aims to redress this notion, explaining how objects in space can influence the environments found on Earth. Kaler begins by comprehensively explaining the effects of various Solar System bodies upon the Earth; the gravitational influences exerted by the Moon, Sun and other planets, and the impact of solar radiation. Although informative, I found these early chapters stodgy and a lot of effort to absorb; at no...
Read More‘Habitability and Cosmic Catastrophes’ by Arnold Hanslmeier
This volume, part of the Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics series from Springer, leads the reader through all the hazards that could threaten life on a habitable world. The book starts by defining habitability and the ways in which the Earth provides a suitable environment for life and explaining the fundamentals of biology. Hanslmeier then describes the formation of stars and planets and the detection of extrasolar planets. The second half of the book deals with the cosmic catastrophes, detailing the hazard presented to life by everything from planetary impacts to supernovae and...
Read More‘Introduction to Astrobiology’ by David Rothery, Iain Gilmour & Mark Sephton (eds)
An Introduction to Astrobiology, the latest addition to the planetary science series from the Open University, delivers exactly what the title promises. Written in a clear and accessible manner, excellently illustrated and utilising a whole host of useful additional features, this textbook provides an engaging overview of the key topics in this diverse field. Whilst pitched as an accompaniment to taught introductory courses it would be excellent as a self-study tool or as a quick reference book for postgraduates specialising in the various strands of Astrobiology. The authors begin with the...
Read More‘Humans in Outer Space — Interdisciplinary Odysseys’ by L. Codignola and K.-U. Schrogl (eds.)
Humans in Outer Space — Interdisciplinary Odysseys offers a collection of essays on the implications of human space exploration, written by a selection of space experts and scholars in the humanities and social sciences. This volume is the product of an interdisciplinary meeting, of the same title, organised by the European Science Foundation in Vienna, October 2007. A great range of different viewpoints are expressed here, and this book will almost certainly open your eyes to new perspectives that you hadn’t previously considered, whether you agree with them or not. The book is...
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