Buy Here Be Dragons Book by Simon LeVay - Bookswagon
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Home > Mathematics and Science Textbooks > Science: general issues > Popular science > Here Be Dragons: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life
Here Be Dragons: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life

Here Be Dragons: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life


     0     
5
4
3
2
1



International Edition


X
About the Book

In Here Be Dragons, astronomer David Koerner and neurobiologist Simon LeVay offer a scientifically compelling and colorful account of the search for life beyond Earth. The authors survey the work of biologists, cosmologists, computer theorists, NASA engineers, SETI researchers, roboticists, and UFO enthusiasts and debunkers as they attempt to answer the greatest remaining question facing humankind: Are we alone? From their "safe haven of skepticism" the authors venture into the "rough seas of speculation," where theory and evidence run the gamut from hard science to hocus pocus. Arguing that the universe is spectacularly suited for the evolution of living creatures, Koerner and LeVay give us ringside seats at the great debates of Big Science. The contentious arguments about what really happens in evolution, the acrimonious UFO controversy, and the debate over intelligence versus artificial intelligence shed new light on the wildly divergent claims about the universe and life's place in it.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction Origins: How Life on Earth Began Going to Extremes: The Habitats and Requirements for Life The Incredible Shrinking Martians: Searching for Life in the Solar System The Death and Life of Stars: Organic Chemistry and the Evolution of Solar Systems The Planet Finders: Searching for Life Beyond the Sun What Happens in Evolution? Chance and Necessity in the Origin of Biological Complexity SETI: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Dreamland: The Science and Religion of UFOs Exotica: Life as we don't know it Many Worlds: Cosmology and the Anthropic Principle Conclusion Endnotes

About the Author :
David Koerner is an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania. Simon LeVay is an Independent Consultant and former Associate Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California.

Review :
"A wide-ranging, well-written, and very wise examination of the fascinating search for life in the universe, filled with the latest information from the frontiers of scientific investigation and philosophical thought."--Ben Bova, author of Return To Mars and Immortality and President Emeritus of the National Space Society "Here Be Dragons presents an astronomer's and a biologist's perspective on the decades-old search for life elsewhere in the cosmos."--Dallas Morning News "This is a properly thought out book reviewing the accomplishments of exobiologists and future endeavors. Koerner and LeVay are well versed in the field and present the data in an unbiased, truly scientific viewpoint."--Meteoritics & Planetary Science "A wide-ranging, well-written, and very wise examination of the fascinating search for life in the universe, filled with the latest information from the frontiers of scientific investigation and philosophical thought."--Ben Bova, author of Return To Mars and Immortality and President Emeritus of the National Space Society "It is the question of questions: Are we alone? In a dazzling tour de force David Koerner and Simon LeVay not only bring us completely up to date with the relevant science but skillfully channel the character and enthusiasm of many of the principal practitioners into a compelling narrative, spiced with the occasional puncturing of self-inflicted pomposity. The pace is gripping and the torrent of new scientific insights allows us the first glimpse of what may be a cosmic sythesis. The extraordinary discovery of new and remote Solar Systems, and a deepening appreciation of the manifold wonders of life on Earth, suggest that within few years we really will learn if we are part of the Galactic Club or--as some fear, and others hope--we are marooned on a uniquely beautiful planet. If you thought science was stale and narrow, then this is the book to correct your illusions."--Simon Conway Morris, Department of Earth Sciences, Cambridge University, and author of The Crucible of Creation "Here Be Dragons provides a wide-ranging overview of one of the most exciting new fields of science: astrobiology, or the study of life in the universe. Koerner and LeVay discuss the many differing scientific perspectives on extraterrestrial life objectively and clearly, at the same time distinguishing between constructive scientific speculation and the popular pseudo-sciences of UFO's, alien abductions, and so-called "creation science". I greatly enjoyed reading the book and will recommend it to my friends, both researchers and armchair scientists."--David Morrison, space scientist "Their heady tour skips from 'extraterrestrial environments' right here on Earth where NASA scientists are investigating extreme environments believed to resemble conditions on other planets or moons, through the SETI Institute in California, whose radio telescopes scan the skies for transmitting civilizations, to Bios Group, a Santa Fe start-up company that uses complexity theory to explore the intrinsic rules underlying the growth of evolving organisms or human institutions....Koerner and LeVay have a gift for helping the uninitiated over technical terrain."--Publishers Weekly "Astronomer Koerner and biologist LeVay plot scenarios for extraterrestrial life in this sharp, enthusiastic, and skeptically temperedoverview of 'cosmic biology'"--Kirkus Reviews "Koerner and LeVay have a gift for helping the uninitiated over technical terrain."--Publishers Weekly "By the end of Here Be Dragons you will have learned a great deal about terrestrial life and its hypothetical or inferential relationship to life 'out there,' intelligent or otherwise."--Wired "Clearly displays the authors' enthusiasm for their subject, especially for the way it illuminates our lives."--Science News "Recommended"--Choice


Best Sellers


Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9780195146004
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
  • Publisher Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
  • Height: 234 mm
  • No of Pages: 280
  • Spine Width: 19 mm
  • Weight: 471 gr
  • ISBN-10: 019514600X
  • Publisher Date: 31 Jan 2002
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: N
  • Sub Title: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life
  • Width: 156 mm


Similar Products

Add Photo
Add Photo

Customer Reviews

REVIEWS      0     
Click Here To Be The First to Review this Product
Here Be Dragons: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life
Oxford University Press Inc -
Here Be Dragons: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life
Writing guidlines
We want to publish your review, so please:
  • keep your review on the product. Review's that defame author's character will be rejected.
  • Keep your review focused on the product.
  • Avoid writing about customer service. contact us instead if you have issue requiring immediate attention.
  • Refrain from mentioning competitors or the specific price you paid for the product.
  • Do not include any personally identifiable information, such as full names.

Here Be Dragons: The Scientific Quest for Extraterrestrial Life

Required fields are marked with *

Review Title*
Review
    Add Photo Add up to 6 photos
    Would you recommend this product to a friend?
    Tag this Book Read more
    Does your review contain spoilers?
    What type of reader best describes you?
    I agree to the terms & conditions
    You may receive emails regarding this submission. Any emails will include the ability to opt-out of future communications.

    CUSTOMER RATINGS AND REVIEWS AND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TERMS OF USE

    These Terms of Use govern your conduct associated with the Customer Ratings and Reviews and/or Questions and Answers service offered by Bookswagon (the "CRR Service").


    By submitting any content to Bookswagon, you guarantee that:
    • You are the sole author and owner of the intellectual property rights in the content;
    • All "moral rights" that you may have in such content have been voluntarily waived by you;
    • All content that you post is accurate;
    • You are at least 13 years old;
    • Use of the content you supply does not violate these Terms of Use and will not cause injury to any person or entity.
    You further agree that you may not submit any content:
    • That is known by you to be false, inaccurate or misleading;
    • That infringes any third party's copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights or rights of publicity or privacy;
    • That violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising);
    • That is, or may reasonably be considered to be, defamatory, libelous, hateful, racially or religiously biased or offensive, unlawfully threatening or unlawfully harassing to any individual, partnership or corporation;
    • For which you were compensated or granted any consideration by any unapproved third party;
    • That includes any information that references other websites, addresses, email addresses, contact information or phone numbers;
    • That contains any computer viruses, worms or other potentially damaging computer programs or files.
    You agree to indemnify and hold Bookswagon (and its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint ventures, employees and third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.), harmless from all claims, demands, and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of a breach of your representations and warranties set forth above, or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.


    For any content that you submit, you grant Bookswagon a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, copy, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from and/or sell, transfer, and/or distribute such content and/or incorporate such content into any form, medium or technology throughout the world without compensation to you. Additionally,  Bookswagon may transfer or share any personal information that you submit with its third-party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc. in accordance with  Privacy Policy


    All content that you submit may be used at Bookswagon's sole discretion. Bookswagon reserves the right to change, condense, withhold publication, remove or delete any content on Bookswagon's website that Bookswagon deems, in its sole discretion, to violate the content guidelines or any other provision of these Terms of Use.  Bookswagon does not guarantee that you will have any recourse through Bookswagon to edit or delete any content you have submitted. Ratings and written comments are generally posted within two to four business days. However, Bookswagon reserves the right to remove or to refuse to post any submission to the extent authorized by law. You acknowledge that you, not Bookswagon, are responsible for the contents of your submission. None of the content that you submit shall be subject to any obligation of confidence on the part of Bookswagon, its agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners or third party service providers (including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.)and their respective directors, officers and employees.

    Accept


    Inspired by your browsing history


    Your review has been submitted!

    You've already reviewed this product!