Read complete books and articles on: Extraterrestrials

Exobiology - or astrobiology, search for extraterrestrial life within the solar system and throughout the universe. Philosophical speculation that there might be other worlds similar to ours dates back to the ancient Chinese and Greeks. However, the achievements of space exploration and molecular biology have turned speculation into experimentation.

Parameters of a Suitable Environment for Life

There are six basic parameters that determine whether an environment is suitable for life as we know it: temperature, pressure, salinity, acidity, water availability, and oxygen content. Advanced life is restricted to a narrow range of these parameters, but primitive microorganisms exist over a much wider range. Data already collected by space probes essentially rule out advanced life on other planets of our solar system; however, given the potential number of planetary systems in the galaxy, there may be as many as 50,000 planets that have earthlike conditions, a fraction of which could have cultures as technologically advanced as our own. Three decades of passive listening with radio telescopes have produced no signals comparable to those radiating from earth, but we do not know if another civilization would produce electromagnetic radiation in detectable amounts.

The Search for Primitive Life

A continuing effort is being made to detect primitive life within our solar system. According to the Russian biologist A. I. Oparin, life can appear as the result of progressive development of organic matter from nonorganic. The principal constituents of organic matter—hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen—are among the most abundant atomic elements in the universe. Oparin assumed that on earth these elements combined to form simple hydrocarbons and that the hydrocarbons combined to form the precursors of life, such as amino and nucleic acids. Once these precursor molecules existed in the earth's primitive seas, they spontaneously interacted to form increasingly complex structures, until self-replicating molecules like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were created, leading the way to protein synthesis.

American chemists Stanley L. Miller and Harold C. Urey provided experimental support for Oparin's theory, by discovering that when a mixture of methane, ammonia, water, and hydrogen is exposed to an electric discharge, amino acids are formed. The composition of this gas mixture is similar to the atmosphere of Jupiter. The same result has been obtained by exposing the gas mixture to ultraviolet radiation, which exists in outer space. Further support for Oparin's theory came with the discovery of organic molecules like ammonia and formaldehyde in the interstellar medium. A labeled-release experiment contained on the Viking landers which analyzed the surface of Mars in 1976 detected what could be organic activity.

Evidence of organic material and, possibly, fossils of microscopic bacteria have been found in certain carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, most notably the Orgeuil meteorite, which fell in France in 1864, the Murchison meteorite, which fell in Australia in 1969, and the Allan Hills martian meteorite, found in Antarctica in 1984, but most scientists believe either that such organic traces result from terrestrial contamination or that the data have been misinterpreted. Some scientists believe that the moon, Mars, and Venus have already been contaminated by microorganisms carried on space probes. Conversely, fears that returning Apollo astronauts could introduce destructive alien organisms into earth's biosphere led NASA to quarantine them for as long as two weeks, and lunar rock samples were kept carefully isolated.

Bibliography

See D. Goldsmith, The Hunt for Life on Mars (1997); P. Day, ed., The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Essays on Science and Technology (1998); S. J. Dick, Life on Other Worlds: The 20th-Century Extraterrestrial Life Debate (1998).

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16 of the Best Books and Articles on: Extraterrestrials

as selected by Questia librarians

1.

Alien Life: The Search for Extraterrestrials and Beyond » Read Now
by Barry Parker, Lori Scoffield. 254 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

Parker propels us into the thrilling realm of space exploration, assessing our chances of finding extraterrestrials, as he describes the science behind our efforts to reach the final frontier. Today's cutting-edge radio telescopes scan the cosmos for any signal that may indicate alien contact...
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Parker propels us into the thrilling realm of space exploration, assessing our chances of finding extraterrestrials, as he describes the science behind our efforts to reach the final frontier. Today's cutting-edge radio telescopes scan the cosmos for any signal that may indicate alien contact. Already we may have found microbes in meteorites from Mars. Three of Jupiter's moons are now known to contain ice and liquid water. Having discovered planets outside our solar system, astronomers believe that perhaps other "suns" exist capable of supporting planets that harbor alien life forms. Parker stresses that disaster surely awaits as Earth's ever-growing population depletes our planer's natural resources. He explains the plans to mine treasures in space, generate power on distant bodies, and establish thriving space communities.
We can control our alien searches in space, but what if they find us first? Have we already been visited? How do we account for eye-witness reports of bizarre glowing lights, scorched patterns on crop fields, and alleged abductions? Buckle your seatbelt as our eloquent guide navigates us through the magnificent discoveries of yesterday and today in search of undiscovered worlds and extraterrestrials of tomorrow.
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2.

Are We Alone? Philosophical Implications of the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life » Read Now
by Paul Davies. 160 pgs.

Collections: Philosophy, Entire Library
3.

Life Evolving: Molecules, Mind, and Meaning (Chap. 17 "Are We Alone?") » Read Now
by Christian de Duve. 341 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

In just a half century, humanity has made an astounding leap in its understanding of life. Now, one of the giants of biological science, Christian de Duve, discusses what we've learned in this half century, ranging from the tiniest cells to the future of our species and of life itself. With...
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In just a half century, humanity has made an astounding leap in its understanding of life. Now, one of the giants of biological science, Christian de Duve, discusses what we've learned in this half century, ranging from the tiniest cells to the future of our species and of life itself. With wide-ranging erudition, De Duve takes us on a dazzling tour of the biological world, beginning with the invisible workings of the cell, the area in which he won his Nobel Prize. He describes how the first cells may have arisen and suggests that they may have been like the organisms that exist today near deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Contrary to many scientists, he argues that life was bound to arise and that it probably only took millennia--maybe tens of thousands of years--to move from rough building blocks to the first organisms possessing the basic properties of life. With equal authority, De Duve examines topics such as the evolution of humans, the origins of consciousness, the development of language, the birth of science, and the origin of emotion, morality, altruism, and love. He concludes with his conjectures on the future of humanity--for instance, we may evolve, perhaps via genetic engineering, into a new species--and he shares his personal thoughts about God and immortality. In Life Evolving, one of our most eminent scientists sums up what he has learned about the nature of life and our place in the universe. An extraordinarily wise and humane volume, it will fascinate readers curious about the world around them and about the impact of science on philosophy and religion.
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4.

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: A Philosophical Inquiry » Read Now
by David Lamb. 210 pgs.

Collections: Philosophy, Entire Library

Is the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence a genuine scientific research programme? David Lamb evaluates claims and counter-claims, and examines recent attempts to establish contact with other intelligent life forms. He considers the benefits and drawbacks of this communication, how we should...
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Is the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence a genuine scientific research programme? David Lamb evaluates claims and counter-claims, and examines recent attempts to establish contact with other intelligent life forms. He considers the benefits and drawbacks of this communication, how we should communicate and whether we actually can. He also assesses competing theories on the origin of life on Earth, discoveries of former solar planets, proposals for space colonies and the consequent technical and ethical issues.
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5.

The Quest for Alien Planets: Exploring Worlds outside the Solar System » Read Now
by Paul Halpern. 293 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library
6.

The Science of Aliens » Read Now
by Clifford Pickover. 222 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

They've been depicted as everything from little green men, to amorphous gelatinous blobs, to sky-scraper-tall, laser-blasting monsters. But if we actually met aliens from outer space, what might they really look like? Popular author Clifford Pickover leaps light years beyond current knowledge to...
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They've been depicted as everything from little green men, to amorphous gelatinous blobs, to sky-scraper-tall, laser-blasting monsters. But if we actually met aliens from outer space, what might they really look like? Popular author Clifford Pickover leaps light years beyond current knowledge to offer an eye-popping look at beings from beyond.
Packed with stunning descriptions and drawings that offer close-up looks at life out there, this fanciful book introduces creatures that see in the infrared or hear radio waves. It ponders beings that possess super brains within an octopus-like body, and three-eyed, three-armed creatures that look like high-tech versions of Dr. Seuss characters. Putting his imagination in hyper-drive, the author obliterates assumptions of life's limitations by contemplating a planet of immobile, silicon-based "trees" that communicate via electric signals, entities that survive at mega-high pressures and temperatures -- even interstellar clouds that can think. In classic Pickover style, here's speculation at the far edge of knowability...and beyond.
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7.

After Contact: The Human Response to Extraterrestrial Life » Read Now
by Albert A. Harrison. 370 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library
8.

Space 2000: Meeting the Challenge of a New Era (Chap. 12 "Intelligent Life in the Universe") » Read Now
by Harry L. Shipman. 431 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library
9.

The Lure of the Edge: Scientific Passions, Religious Beliefs, and the Pursuit of UFOs » Read Now
by Brenda Denzler. 295 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

UFO phenomena entered American consciousness at the beginning of the Cold War, when reports from astonished witnesses of encounters with unknown aerial objects captured the attention of the United States military and the imagination of the press and the public. But when UFOs appeared not to be...
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UFO phenomena entered American consciousness at the beginning of the Cold War, when reports from astonished witnesses of encounters with unknown aerial objects captured the attention of the United States military and the imagination of the press and the public. But when UFOs appeared not to be hostile, and when some scientists pronounced the sightings to be of natural meteorological phenomena misidentified due to "Cold War jitters," military interest declined sharply and, with it, further overt scientific interest.
Yet sighting reports didn't stop and UFOs entered the public imagination as a cultural myth of the twentieth century. Brenda Denzler's comprehensive, clearly written, and compelling narrative provides the first sustained overview and valuation of the UFO/alien abduction movement as a social phenomenon positioned between scientific and religious perspectives. Demonstrating the unique place ufology occupies in the twentieth-century nexus between science and religion, Denzler surveys the sociological contours of its community, assesses its persistent attempt to achieve scientific legitimacy, and concludes with an examination of the movement's metaphysical or spiritual outlook. Her book is a substantial contribution to our understanding of American popular culture and the boundaries of American religion and to the debate about the nature of science and religion.
Denzler presents a thorough and fascinating history of the UFO/abduction movement and t
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10.

Christian Theology and Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life, in Theological Studies » Read Now
by Thomas F. O'Meara. 27 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
11.

Toward an Explanation of the UFO Abduction Phenomenon: Hypnotic Elaboration, Extraterrestrial Sadomasochism, and Spurious Memories, in Psychological Inquiry » Read Now
by Leonard S. Newman, Roy F. Baumeister. 28 pgs.

Collections: Psychology, Entire Library

...people report having been abducted by extraterrestrials. We offer a prototype of the abduction...abduction stories. For example, even if extraterrestrials did land on...
12.

The History of Science and Religion in the Western Tradition: An Encyclopedia ("The Plurality of Worlds and Extraterrestrial Life" begins on p. 342) » Read Now
by Darrel W. Amundsen, Gary B. Ferngren, Edward J. Larson, Anne-Marie E. Nakhla. 587 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

Spanning from 5th century Greece to today, this volume describes the relationship of science and religion throughout history. From ancient cosmology to modern physics, every major intellectual movement and discipline is covered.
13.

Aliens: The Anthropology of Science Fiction » Read Now
by George E. Slusser, Eric S. Rabkin. 252 pgs.

Collections: Literature, Entire Library

...it is defined by Pierre Versins 2 -- utopia, extraordinary voyages, and SF -- we discover the following beings: extraterrestrials, "lost" races, intelligent animals...
14.

A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America (Chap. 5 "UFO Conspiracy Theories, 1975-1990" and Chap. 6 "UFOs Meet the New World Order") » Read Now
by Michael Barkun. 243 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

"Tracing the beliefs in various conspiracies and mega-conspiracies in literature, apocalyptic and political writing, and popular culture, Barkun creates an exceptional and invaluable genealogy of the extraordinary permutations that these ideas have undergone since WWII and, of course, as a result of...
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"Tracing the beliefs in various conspiracies and mega-conspiracies in literature, apocalyptic and political writing, and popular culture, Barkun creates an exceptional and invaluable genealogy of the extraordinary permutations that these ideas have undergone since WWII and, of course, as a result of the Internet. Barkun dives into the religious and political matrix of what some call the "lunatic fringe," forcing us to look at the revival and spread of conspiracist thinking on an even grander scale into broad reaches of American culture. For those who think conspiracy thinking is a fading phenomenon, or a cultural phenomenon of little significance or creativity, think again. Welcome to the third millennium."--Richard Landes, Director, Center for Millennial Studies at Boston University; editor of "The Encyclopedia of Millennial Movements and author of "Relics, Apocalypse, and the Deceits of History
"Millennial dreams, apocalyptic nightmares populated by agents of the Antichrist, space aliens, andacolytes of the New World Order-With a calm approach and scrupulous academic bearings, Barkun navigates through the reefs of conspiracist allegation from the cosmic to the comic, from Biblical prophecy to Internet alerts."--Chip Berlet, co-author of "Right-Wing Populism in America
"This is a gripping, and at times scary, book. Michael Barkun, one of our most respected political scientists, has produced a meticulously researched and highly perceptive account of those who find credible an incredible assortment of nefarious conspiracies emanating not only from the Jews, Masons, Catholics and politicians in our midst, but also from' out there.' This book should be read by everyone who believesthat there are some ways of checking the differences between truths and fantasies - and by everyone who doesn' t."--Eileen Barker, Professor of Sociology, the London School of Economics
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15.

Alien Abductions: Creating a Modern Phenomenon » Read Now
by Terry Matheson. 317 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

"Alien Abductions" draws a parallel to the way societal myths are made. Actual accounts--often collected while the "victims" are under stress--are often greatly enhanced by popular "nonfiction" authors who exploit these stories for their own profit. Illustrations.
16.

Best Magazine Articles, 1988 ("Are We Alone?" begins on p. 55) » Read Now
by Thomas Fensch. 186 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

...Best Magazine Articles: 1988 COMMUNICATION TEXTBOOK SERIES Jennings Bryant--Editor Journalism Maxwell McCombs--Advisor BERNER Writing Literary Features...