Beyond the Stars: Our Origins and the Search for Life in the Universe

“The book is highly readable and pedagogical, with many useful allusions to the historical development of the current ideas.”– Thierry Montmerle, Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris

“The text is written in a way which keeps it interesting both for the general reader and for specialists. It is richly illustrated throughout the whole book by full-colour figures. Due to its well-balanced scientific essay style, it deserves a clear recommendation to any interested reader.”– Contemporary Physics

“Paolo Saraceno’s book not only manages to take the reader through the myriad facets of astronomy, planetary physics, geology, biology, chemistry and evolution that have a bearing on the origin and evolution of life, but does so with a simple and clear language without using too many jargons. Saraceno has written a thought-provoking book.” —Current Science

What is the origin of the universe? Are we alone in the Universe? Using clear and plain language, the author explores these two interesting scientific-philosophical themes with a broad range of studies, including astronomy, cosmology, chemistry, biology, geology and planet science.

The first part discusses the origins of everything, from the Big Bang to humankind. It follows the long course of evolution from original matter to the formation of more complex structures, from the furthest galaxies to the nearest stars, from planets to organic molecules, from the first and most elementary forms of life through to the reptiles, the dinosaurs and the advent of man.

The second part traces the history of the Earth and evaluates the risks of extinction in the future as predicted by scientists. Is the Earth the only habitable planet in the Universe? This question initiates the discussion on the importance of the Earth’s position in the solar system and the significance of our geologically alive planet.

The final part is dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial beings with identifiable life forms. It also describes attempts for searching, from the past to the near future.

This remarkable book provides the best answers we have to the epic questions about us and our place in the universe.