‘Atom’ by Piers Bizony
“In the year 1900, a deeply conservative physicist called Max Plank concluded, somewhat reluctantly, that energy is not smooth and continuous. It is divided into discreet amounts, mysterious packets, which he called ‘quanta’. It was a discovery which would revolutionise all of science.” A companion to the BBC TV series of the same name, Atom charts the development of atomic theory from its genesis in ancient Greece, through its true beginnings in the 18th century, right up to the present day, all viewed through the lives of the scientists who made the discoveries. This method makes Bizony’s...
Read More‘Astrochemistry: From Astronomy to Astrobiology’ by Andrew Shaw
Astrochemistry is a relatively young and interdisciplinary subject. Researchers and students alike approach it from backgrounds in different fields – astrophysics, chemistry, physics, and even mathematics – each of which has its own conventions, terminology and perspective. Most texts that have covered the subject of astrochemistry have been written from an astrophysical view. This book stands out for being written by a chemist, with a chemist’s perspective. The author notes in the preface that the book grew from an undergraduate lecture course. This is evident in its style and content. The...
Read More‘Astrobiology of Earth: The Emergence, Evolution and Future of Life on a Planet’ by Joseph Gale
Joseph Gale’s background is in environmental physiology with a parallel career in military and civilian aviation. Currently, he is Emeritus Professor at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, where he teaches a course on astrobiology. Astrobiology of Earth is written partly to assist students “to see the forest, not just the trees” and in this it is successful. The first chapter consists of an attempt to define life as we know it and the role of water. Successive chapters then examine the Universe from a biological point of view before moving on to how the formation and history of the Solar...
Read More‘Astrobiology – A Brief Introduction’ by Kevin W. Plaxco & Michael Gross
Astrobiology is a young and vibrant field of research, incorporating knowledge from across the whole spectrum of science and combining it to gain a better understanding of our place in the Universe. Astrobiology – A Brief Introduction is an enjoyable and interesting summary of astrobiological research, history, and aims. It captures the youthful vitality of the field and explores the astonishingly diverse array of subjects that provide information on life and its beginnings. The authors, biochemists Kevin Plaxco and Michael Gross, have produced a well structured and clearly written book that...
Read More‘The Astrobiological Landscape’ by Milan M. Ćirković
In The Astrobiological Landscape, Ćirković takes the reader on a philosophical journey through the development of the scientific field that is astrobiology; from ancient Greek philosophies to present-day endeavours. From the outset the inextricable link between cosmology and astrobiology is repeatedly highlighted, as is the need for greater cooperation and unification between these and other disciplines, including philosophy for advancement. This book is not merely a review of past and present astrobiological and cosmological endeavours, but a critical discourse of various key scientific...
Read More‘The Eerie Silence: Are We Alone in the Universe?’ by Paul Davies
This book has been written to mark the 50th anniversary of SETI, and gives the author’s personal thoughts on why no alien signals have yet been detected despite the ever increasing sensitivity of the search. It is intended for a popular audience, and as such doesn’t provide much new information that anyone familiar with the SETI literature won’t already know. Nevertheless, it is a thought-provoking book, and I am glad that I read it. Its main strength is a plea for a more broad-minded, less anthropocentric, approach to SETI. Davies believes, and I agree with him, that much of the current...
Read More