Bookshop: SETI
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| Eerie Silence: Are We Alone
In the Universe? Paul Davies With one tantalizing exception, SETI has produced only negative results. After millions of hours spent eavesdropping on the cosmos astronomers have detected only the eerie sound of silence. What does that mean? Are we in fact alone in the vastness of the universe? Is ET out there, but not sending any messages our way? Might we be surrounded by messages we simply don't recognize? Is SETI a waste of time and money, or should we press ahead with new and more sensitive antennas? Or look somewhere else? And if a signal were to be received, what then? How would we – or even should we – respond. |
| Lonely Planets: The Natural
Philosophy of Alien Life. David Grinspoon Principal scientist at the Southwest Research Institute's department of space science, Grinspoon offers an up-to-date picture of the search for extraterrestrial life and the prospects of finding it in a universe that we now know contains other solar systems. It also covers the nearly four centuries that the search has been under way since the initial observations of Renaissance astronomers. Publishers Weekly |
| The Search for Life in the
Universe. Donald Goldsmith & Tobias Owen Long recognized as the "Gold Standard" text for astrobiology courses, The Search for Life in the Universe now appears in a completely revised and updated Third Edition. This book engages students in astronomy by presenting a great, unsolved mystery: How likely is life beyond earth, and how can we find it if it exists? Publisher's description Quite possibly the best astrobiology text available. International Journal of Astrobiology |
| Intelligent Life in the Universe:
From Common Origins to the Future of Humanity. Peter Ulmschneider
This book addresses all science readers interested in the origins, development, and fate of intelligent species in the observable part of our universe. In particular, the author scrutinizes what kind of information about extraterrestrial intelligent life can be inferred from our own biological, cultural and scientific evolution. Publisher's description |
| If the Universe is Teeming
With Aliens...Where is Everybody? Fifty Solutions to Fermi's Paradox
and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life. Stephen Webb
In response to Enrico Fermi's famous 1950 question concerning the existence of advanced civilizations elsewhere, physicist Webb critically examines 50 resolutions to explain the total absence of empirical evidence for probes, starships, and communications from extraterrestrials. Library Journal |
| Sharing the Universe: Perspectives
on Extraterrestrial Life. Seth Shostak Shostak is the Public Programs Scientist for the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute. In this fascinating speculative book, he builds a careful case for the importance of the institute's work, narrowing the range of the galaxy's possibly life-nurturing stars and imagining what forms non-carbon-based life might take. Publishers Weekly |
| Are We Alone? Philosophical
Implications of the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life. Paul Davies
This bite-size volume for the nonscientist reviews fact and speculation concerning the possible existence of extraterrestrial life. In the process, Davies (The Mind of God) explores metaphysical arguments and attitudes that would be affected by discovery of other life. A physicist, natural philosopher and winner of the 1995 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, he presents an approach that is broad and inquiring, not dogmatic. Publishers Weekly |
| Cosmic Company: The Search
for Life in the Universe. Seth Shostak Shostak and Barnett ponder the possibility of aliens visiting the Earth, as well as the consequences of receiving a signal from the cosmos proving we're neither alone, nor the most intelligent life forms. They explain why scientists think life might exist on other worlds, and how we might contact it. Publisher's description |
| Biocosm: The New Scientific
Theory of Evolution – Intelligent Life is the Architect of the
Universe. Seth Shostak and James Gardner For many years, traditional cosmologists and proponents of faith-based "intelligent design" have fought over the origin of the universe. One side maintains that pure chance can explain everything; the other that there must be a God. In Biocosm, James Gardner examines the evidence and finds a third hypothesis, one that has the approval of a number of noted skeptics and scientists. Amazon.com |
| Beyond Contact: A Guide to
SETI and Communicating with Alien Civilizations. Brian McConnell
Engineer, software developer, inventor, and entrepreneur Brian McConnell discusses how we might carry out high-level communication across interstellar distances by building a general-purpose language to exchange messages with an intelligent alien race. He also examines traditional radio (microwave) and laser (optical) wave communication techniques employed by the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) researchers and evaluates ways to receive and transmit messages. Book News |
| Is Anyone Out There? Frank
Drake Astronomy and astrophysics professor Drake, aided by science journalist Sobel, responds to the title's classic question with an account of his career-long quest to gamer hard scientific data that might point to some answers. Publishers Weekly |
| 2020: A Roadmap for the Search
for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Ronald Ekers (ed.)
Reviews the history of the search and lays out a plan for SETI's next 18 years. The book presents sober science that holds out an awesome prospect should the search succeed: "We would come to view ourselves and our place in the Universe in a very different light. Scientific American |