Extraterrestrials: Where Are They? - Second edition

Cover......Page 1
Intro Blurb......Page 2
Half Title......Page 4
Title......Page 6
Copyright......Page 7
Contents......Page 8
Preface to the Second Edition ix......Page 10
Preface to the First Edition xi......Page 12
1 An Explanation for the Absence of Extraterrestrials on Earth MICHAEL H. HART 1......Page 14
Physical Explanations......Page 15
Sociological Explanations......Page 17
Temporal Explanations......Page 18
Perhaps They Have Come......Page 19
Conclusions and Discussion......Page 20
References......Page 21
Introduction......Page 22
Manifestations of Technology......Page 23
What Signals?......Page 24
Needles and Haystacks......Page 25
HRMS: Initial Deployments......Page 27
NASA Pulls Out......Page 30
Conclusion......Page 31
References......Page 32
3 An Examination of Claims that Extraterrestrial Visitors to Earth Are Being Observed ROBERT SHEAFFER 20......Page 33
References......Page 40
4 The Likelihood of Interstellar Colonization, and the Absence of Its Evidence SEBASTIAN VON HOERNER 29......Page 42
Bibliography......Page 45
5 Pre-emption of the Galaxy by the First Advanced Civilization RONALD BRACEWELL 34......Page 47
References......Page 52
Introduction......Page 53
Stellar Evolution and Mass Migration......Page 54
Conclusions......Page 56
References......Page 57
7 Interstellar Propulsion Systems FREEMAN DYSON 45......Page 58
We Have The Accelerator! How About The Brakes?......Page 59
References......Page 61
The Pioneer and Voyager Interstellar Spacecraft......Page 63
The Daedalus Project......Page 64
Antimatter rockets......Page 66
Light Sails......Page 69
The Laser Powered Interstellar Rocket......Page 72
The Interstellar Pellet Stream......Page 73
People to the Stars?......Page 74
The Interstellar Ramjet......Page 75
The Ram Augmented Interstellar Rocket (RAIR)......Page 78
Conclusion......Page 79
References......Page 80
Interstellar Travel and Extraterrestrial Intelligence......Page 83
Space Habitats in the Solar System......Page 84
'Known' Solution to Biological Problems of Interstellar Settlement......Page 87
An Example of Propulsion for Human Interstellar Settlement......Page 88
Conclusions......Page 92
Appendix A: Alternative Modes of Biological Transport......Page 93
Appendix B: Deceleration on Blow back from Colliding Pellets......Page 95
References......Page 97
10 Terraforming JAMES OBERG 86......Page 99
Introduction......Page 105
Human Expansion......Page 106
Interstellar Settlement......Page 107
Mathematical Models......Page 109
Discussion......Page 111
Caveats......Page 113
References......Page 114
Introduction......Page 116
What Makes a Planet Habitable?......Page 117
Extraterrestrial Life......Page 118
A Search for Sources of Tritium in Our Solar System May Reveal 
the Presence of Extraterrestrial Probes......Page 119
References......Page 120
Primitive Earth's Atmosphere......Page 121
Energy Sources......Page 122
Simulation Experiments......Page 123
Synthesis of Biomonomers......Page 125
Synthesis of Biopolymers......Page 128
The Role of Trace Metal Ions......Page 129
Role of Clay Minerals......Page 130
Chirality......Page 131
Evidence in Ancient Rocks and Sediments......Page 132
Evidence beyond the Earth......Page 133
References......Page 135
Introduction......Page 138
Information in Sequences......Page 139
The Generation of Information......Page 142
The Probability of the Origin......Page 143
Darwinian Generation of Information......Page 145
An Intermediate Mechanism......Page 146
A Reproductive Chemical Community......Page 147
Proto-darwinian Evolution......Page 148
Conclusions......Page 150
References......Page 151
Introduction......Page 152
What is Life?......Page 153
Life Based on RNA......Page 154
The Prebiotic Earth......Page 157
Life before RNA......Page 159
The Antiquity of DNA and Protein......Page 160
A New Approach......Page 162
References......Page 163
Where Can One Expect To Find Such Life?......Page 165
What Percentage of Planets on Which Life Has Originated Will 
Produce Intelligent Life?......Page 166
How Much Intelligence Is Necessary To Produce a Civilization?......Page 167
How Long Is a Civilization Able To Receive Signals?......Page 168
Conclusions......Page 169
17 Alone in a Crowded Universe JARED DIAMOND 157......Page 170
Introduction......Page 178
The Predestinists......Page 179
The Carbaquists......Page 180
A Definition and Some Conditions......Page 181
Physical Life......Page 183
References......Page 184
Introduction......Page 186
The Number of Habitable Planets......Page 187
Cosmic Frequency Standards......Page 189
Experiments......Page 191
Conclusions......Page 193
References......Page 196
Introduction......Page 197
Stellar Populations - the Hopeless Halo......Page 198
The Solar Neighborhood - Are We Normal?......Page 199
The Bulge and Inner Disk......Page 201
References......Page 203
Planetary Systems and Life......Page 205
Gauging the Frequency of Planetary Systems from Precursors......Page 206
Taxonomy of Planetary Systems......Page 212
Direct Searches......Page 217
Indirect Searches......Page 220
Are Planetary Systems Common?......Page 224
References......Page 225
Atmospheric Evolution......Page 228
Calculation of N, Using a Modified Drake Equation......Page 230
Our Failure To Observe Extraterrestrials......Page 232
Calculation of flife......Page 233
Life in the Infinite Universe......Page 236
Conclusion......Page 237
References......Page 238
Jared M. Diamond......Page 239
Gerald F. Joyce......Page 240
Michael D. Papagiannis......Page 241
Jill Tarter......Page 242
Sebastian von Hoerner......Page 243
Author Index 231......Page 244
Subject Index 236......Page 249