Life in the Universe
The Abundance of Extraterrestrial Civilizations
a text by
Dr. James N. Pierce
Emeritus Professor of Astronomy at
Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Title: Life in the Universe: The Abundance of Extraterrestrial Civilizations
- Author: James N. Pierce
- Copyright: 2008
- Publisher: BrownWalker Press, Boca Raton, FL
- Format: 8″ x 9 1/2″, paper, 247 pages; also ebook
- ISBN-10: 1-59942-451-7 (pbk); 1-59942-452-5 (ebook)
- ISBN-13: 978-1-59942-451-4 (pbk); 978-1-59942-452-1 (ebook)
Available direct from BrownWalker (search 1599424517) or from Amazon (search 1599424517).
This book was written as a text for our AST 115: Life in the Universe course at MSU. This 2-credit general education course is a discussion of the probability of the existence of extraterrestrial life, along with problems involved in detecting and contacting extraterrestrial civilizations. Topics discussed include the formation of galaxies, stars and planets; the nature and origin of life on Earth; the search for life on other planets; the possibility of interstellar space travel; and the probability of extraterrestrials visiting the Earth. The course format is lecture-discussion. Offered each term. No prerequisites. General Education Categories 2 (Critical Thinking) and 3 (Natural Science).