Description: "We will wonder whether the paths that we have chosen as a society are the most beneficial paths. Indeed, it would be a very humbling experience to realize that we are not alone in our existence. On the other hand, if no evidence is found suggesting other life, we may view the Earth and all its inhabitants with a narrow, pinhole focus that makes us unique, on an isolated plane within a vast universe. This view is well expressed in the thought, attributed variously to either the philosopher Bertrand Russell or the science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. "There are two possibilities. Maybe we're alone. Maybe we're not. Both are equally frightening." -- From the Foreword

Any science fiction buff can tell you that extraterrestrial life is a certainty that has merely eluded the scientists of our time. A few important findings in recent years may validate this belief. The discovery of extrasolar planets and possible fossil Martian life may be the first true pieces of evidence that life on other planets is a probability. In The Search for Life on Other Planets, Jakosky offers a scientific foundation for thinking there may be life elsewhere in the Universe. Using the early history of the Earth and the conditions that would allow life to exist, he creates a sound, scientific foundation for the possibility of life on planets other than our own. Jakosky integrates the mechanics of planets and recent findings from our planetary exploration program to create a rich and accessible look at the likelihood of extraterrestrials and the possibility of humans inhabiting other planets. His prose is authoritative but avoids technical jargon and is well illustrated throughout. For all those interested inunderstanding the scientific evidence for and likelihood of extraterrestrial life, this is the most comprehensive and readable book to date. Bruce Jakosky is active in spacecraft observations, and has been involved with the Viking, Solar Mesosphere Explorer, Clementine, Mars Observer, and Mars Global Surveyor missions. Currently, he teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in terrestrial and planetary geology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

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