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Title Habitability of the universe before earth / volume editors, Richard Gordon and Alexei Sharov.

Publication Info. Cambridge, MA : Academic Press, [2018]

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Location Call No. OPAC Message Status
 Axe Elsevier ScienceDirect Ebook  Electronic Book    ---  Available
Edition First edition.
Description 1 online resource
text txt rdacontent
computer c rdamedia
online resource cr rdacarrier
Series Astrobiology : exploring life on earth and beyond
Astrobiology : exploring life on earth and beyond.
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index.
Note Online resource; title from PDF title page (EBSCO, viewed December 12, 2017).
Summary Habitability of the Universe before Earth: Astrobiology: Exploring Life on Earth and Beyond (series) examines the times and places-before life existed on Earth-that might have provided suitable environments for life to occur, addressing the question: Is life on Earth de novo, or derived from previous life? The universe changed considerably during the vast epoch between the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago and the first evidence of life on Earth 4.3 billion years ago, providing significant time and space to contemplate where, when and under what circumstances life might have arisen. No other book covers this cosmic time period from the point of view of its potential for life. The series covers a broad range of topics encompassing laboratory and field research into the origins and evolution of life on Earth, life in extreme environments and the search for habitable environments in our solar system and beyond, including exoplanets, exomoons and astronomical biosignatures.
Contents Machine generated contents note: pt. 1 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CONSTRAINTS -- Gravity and Life / Bartolo Luque -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Gravity as Source of Complexity -- 3. Planet-Builder Force -- 4. Goldilocks Gravity -- 5. Gravitational Biology -- 6. Scalable Life? -- 7. Plurality of Earth-Like Gravities -- Acknowledgments -- Further Reading -- Radiation as a Constraint for Life in the Universe / Brian C. Thomas -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Types of Radiation -- 3. Sources of High-Energy Radiation -- 3.1. Stellar Emissions -- 3.2. Stellar Explosions -- 4.1. Direct Effects -- 4.2. Indirect Effects -- 5. Rates -- 6. Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Further Reading -- When and Where of Water in the History of the Universe / Othon C. Winter -- 1. Introduction. Why is Water Essential for Life? -- 2. What Is Water? -- 2.1. Chemical Properties of Water -- 2.2. Physical Properties -- 3. When Did Water Appear? -- 3.1. Primordial Nucleosynthesis -- 3.2. Energy Production in Stars -- 3.3. Stellar Nucleosynthesis -- 3.4. Water Molecule -- 4. Distribution of Water in the Universe -- 4.1. Water in Galaxies -- 4.2. Water in Stars and Interstellar Space -- 4.3. Water in Planetary Disks -- 4.4. Water in Extrasolar Planets -- 4.5. Water in the Solar System -- 5. Water and Life -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Further Reading -- Cosmic Evolution of Biochemistry / Charles H. Lineweaver -- 1. Big Bang to Pale Blue Dots -- 2. First Stars: The Increasing Metallicity of POP III and POP II stars -- 3. Influence of C/O on the Rocky Planet Composition -- 4. Ubiquity of Habitable Planetary Systems -- 5. What Can Terrestrial Life Tell us About Extraterrestrial Life? -- 6. Conclusion -- References -- Astrophysical and Cosmological Constraints on Life / Peter L. Biermann -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1. Formation of the Elements of Life -- 1.2. Protection of Life on Planets -- 1.3. Assumptions -- 2. Hazardous Radiation and Particles -- 2.1. Solar/Stellar Energetic Particles (SEPs) -- 2.2. Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) -- 2.3. Extragalactic Cosmic Rays (EGCRs) -- 2.4. Star Formation Rate (SFR) -- 3. Local Astrophysical Threats to Life -- 3.1. Supernovae (SNe) -- 3.2. Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) -- 3.3. Nearby Super-Massive Black Holes (SMBHs) -- 3.4. Galaxy Mergers and SMBH Mergers -- 3.5. AGN, SMBHs, and Ultra-Luminous X-Ray Sources (ULXs) -- 3.6. Galactic Center SMBH -- 4. Planetary Protection -- 4.1. Rise of the Elements -- 4.2. Galactic Magnetic Fields: Protection From EGCRs -- 4.3. Astrospheres: Protection From GCRs -- 4.4. Planetary Magnetic Fields: Protection From GCRs and SEPs -- 4.5. Atmosphere: A Strong Last Line of Protection -- 5. Habitability in Space and in Time -- 5.1. Super-Galactic Habitable Zone (SGHZ) -- 5.2. Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ) -- 5.3. Circumstellar Habitable Zone -- 6. Life as We Know It in the Universe -- 7. Summary of Conclusions -- References -- Further Reading -- Primitive Carbon: Before Earth and Much Before Any Life on It / Chaitanya Giri -- 1. Introduction: The Foundational Carbon -- 2. Viewing the First Billion Years of the Universe -- 3. Origin of Metallicity -- 3.1. Brief Overview of POP-II Stars -- 3.2. Carbon-Enhanced Metal Poor Stars -- 4. Carbon: The Reactant and Substrate in the Early Universe -- 4.1. Carbon Monoxide: The Reactant -- 4.2. Carbonaceous Dust: The Substrate -- 4.3. Dust-Grain Interaction: Escalating Organic Enrichment -- 5. Finding Organics: Analogues of High-Redshift Galaxies in the Local Universe -- 5.1. Signatures of Organics in the Local Universe -- 5.2. AGB Stars: Refuge for Organics? -- 6. Conclusion: Where Does the Science of Origins of Habitability Go from Here? -- 6.1. First Yardstick of Finding Habitability in the Ancient Universe -- 6.2. Cutting-Edge Science of Origins -- Acknowledgments -- References -- pt. 2 PREDICTING HABITABILITY -- Habitability of Our Evolving Galaxy / Ian S. Morrison -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Habitability -- 3. Exoplanet Era -- 4. Habitability of the Milky Way -- 5. Habitability of Other Galaxies -- 6. Transient Radiation Events -- 7. Habitability of the Galaxy Before the Earth -- 8. Conclusions and Future Outlook -- References -- N-Body Simulations and Galactic Habitability / Branislav Vukotic -- 1. Framing the Big Question: Where are We? -- 2. Habitability Properties -- 2.1. Metallicity -- 2.2. Star Formation Rate -- 2.3. Dynamical Properties -- 2.4. Galactic Habitable Zone -- 3. N-Body Simulations: Galactic Habitability in Dynamical Perspective -- 3.1. Description -- 3.2. Metallicity and SFR -- 3.3. Model Accuracy and Limitations -- 4. Simulations -- 4.1. General Description -- 4.2. Habitability Calculations -- 4.3. Comparison of Models -- 4.4. Results -- 4.5. Habitability Before the Earth Was Formed -- 4.6. Discussion -- 5. Comparison With Other Studies -- 5.1. Habitability of Other Galaxies in the Dynamical Perspective -- 6. Conclusions and Future Prospects -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Occupied and Empty Regions of the Space of Extremophile Parameters / Jill A. Mikucki -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Parameter Space of Extremophilic Organisms on Earth -- 2.1. Hyperthermophiles -- 2.2. Psychrophiles -- 2.3. Extreme Halophiles -- 2.4. Tolerance for Low Water Activity -- 2.5. pH Extremophiles -- 2.6. Missing Life in Poly-Extremophilic Parameter Spaces -- 2.7. Radiation- and Pressure-Resistant Extremophiles: Parameter Spaces Analogous to the Interstellar Medium -- 3. Settings for Life in our Solar System: Physiochemical Parameter Space on Mars, Europa, Titan, and Enceladus -- 3.1. Mars -- 3.2. Europa: "Earth-like" Subsurface Ocean -- 3.3. Titan and Enceladus: Active Cryovolcanism on Moons of Saturn -- 3.4. Settings for Life in our Solar System: Plausible Ecosystems Based on Analog Niches -- 4. Conclusion -- References -- Further Reading -- Emergence of Structured, Living, and Conscious Matter in the Evolution of the Universe: A Theory of Structural Evolution and Interaction of Matter / Jack A. Tuszynski -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Physics of Matter and Structural Evolution -- 3. Building the Biostructure: The Mystery of Life -- 4. Rhythms in the Dynamics of Structured Matter -- 5. Emergence of Intelligence -- 6. Microstructural Evolution, Learning, Self-Organization, and Semantics -- 7. What is Balanced Excitation and Inhibition? -- 8. Genetic Basis of Brain Disorders and Aging -- 9. On the Origin of Time, Matter, and Intelligence of Life -- 10. What is Holding us Back in Artificial Intelligence? -- 11. Incomplete Models, the Theory of Everything -- 12. Summary of Theoretical Concepts -- New Predictions -- 13. Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Further Reading -- pt.
3 LIFE IN THE COSMIC SCALE -- Life Before Earth / Richard Gordon -- 1. Increase of Genetic Complexity Follows Moore's Law -- 2. Age of Life Is Estimated Based on Moore's Law -- 3. How Variable Are the Rates of Evolution? -- 4. Why Did Genome Complexity Increase Exponentially? -- 5. Could Life Have Started From the Equivalent of One Nucleotide? -- 6. How Heritable Surface Metabolism May Have Evolved Into an RNA-World Cell? -- 7. How Can Organisms Survive Interstellar Transfer? -- 8. Implications of the Cosmic Origin of Life on Earth -- 9. Genetic Complexity Lags Behind the Functional Complexity of Mind -- 10. Extrapolating the Growth of Complexity Into the Future -- 11. Biosemiotic Perspective -- 12. Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Earth Before Life / Ulvi Yurtsever -- 1. Background -- 2. Method -- 2.1. Regression Effect -- 2.2. Regression Dilution -- 2.3. Estimating Measurement Errors -- 3. Results and Discussion -- 4. Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Drake Equation as a Function of Spectral Type and Time / Ravi K. Kopparapu -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Constraints From Observations -- 2.1. Rate of Star Formation -- 2.2. Fraction of Stars With Planets -- 2.3. Number of Habitable Planets Per System -- 3. Constraints From Theory -- 3.1. Fraction of Habitable Planets That Develop Life -- 3.2. Fraction of Life-Bearing Planets That Develop Intelligence -- 3.3. Fraction of Intelligence-Bearing Planets That Become Communicative -- 4. Rethinking the Longevity Parameter -- 4.1. Equal Evolutionary Time -- 4.2. Proportional Evolutionary Time -- 5. Discussion -- 6. Conclusion -- References -- Are We the First: Was There Life Before Our Solar System? / Sohan Jheeta -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Big Bang and the Elements -- 3. Interstellar Medium -- Holes in the Sky -- 4. Making Organic Molecules -- Cradle for Life? -- 4.1. Astrochemistry -- 4.2. Atmospheric Boundaries -- 4.3. Clay and Mineral Surfaces -- 4.4. Atmospheric Lightning -- 5. Origin of Life per se: Current Hypotheses -- 5.1. Panspermia Hypothesis -- 5.2. Metabolism First Hypothesis -- 5.3. Genetics First Hypothesis -- 5.4. Vesicles First Hypothesis -- 6. Virus Connection -- 7. Extremophiles -- The Resilience of Life -- 8. Balance of Probability: Life Before Our Solar System -- 9. Final Say -- Best Fit Solution? -- References -- Life Before its Origin on Earth: Implications of a Late Emergence of Terrestrial Life / Julian Chela-Flores -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1. Time Available Before the Emergence of Life on Earth -- 1.2. Rationalizing Our Origins in Terms of Thermodynamics.
Note continued: 2. How Would We See Ourselves if Early Origins are Identified? -- 2.1. Approaching the End of Biocentrism if Life on Earth is a Latecomer -- 2.2. Anthropocentrism -- 3. Philosophical Comments on an Early "Forest of Life" -- 3.1. Process Philosophy -- 3.2. Stellar Evolution -- 3.3. Cultural Comments on an Early Forest of Life -- 4. Terrestrial Life as a Latecomer in Cosmic Evolution -- 5. Conclusion -- References -- Further Reading -- pt. 4 SYSTEM PROPERTIES OF LIFE -- Symbiosis: Why Was the Transition from Microbial Prokaryotes to Eukaryotic Organisms a Cosmic Gigayear Event? / Richard Gordon -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Eukaryogenesis as Symbiosis -- 3. Order of Events Resulting in Eukaryotes -- 4. What on Earth Happened When Prokaryotes Were Its Only Habitants? -- 5. Why Did It Take So Long for Eukaryotes to Appear on Earth? -- 5.1. Geophysiochemical Waiting -- 5.2. Biological Waiting -- 6. Semantic Approaches to Eukaryogenesis -- 7. Evolution of Prokaryotes Prior to Eukaryogenesis -- 8. Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Coenzyme World Model of the Origin of Life / Alexei A. Sharov -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Problems With Existing Models of the Origin of Life -- 3. Components, Functions, and Evolution of First Living Systems -- 3.1. Life on the Surface -- 3.2. Evolutionary Potential of the Coenzyme World -- 3.3. Diversification of Molecular Communities -- 4. Evolution From Oil Droplets to LUCA -- 4.1. Template-Based Replication -- 4.2. Bilayer Membrane -- 4.3. Chromosomes -- 4.4. Protein Synthesis -- 5. Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Emergence of Polygonal Shapes in Oil Droplets and Living Cells: The Potential Role of Tensegrity in the Origin of Life / Stoyan K. Smoukov -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Shaped Droplets -- 3. Oil-Based Protocells -- 4. Polygonal Prokaryotes -- 5. Mechanisms Controlling the Shapes of Prokaryote Cells -- 6. Possible Functions of a Polygonal Shape of Cells -- 7. Polygonal Diatoms -- 8. Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- Appendix Overview of Tensegrity Structures -- Toy Model for the Polygonal Shape of Shaped Droplets -- References -- Further Reading -- Why on Theoretical Grounds It Is Likely that "Life" Exists Throughout the universe / Jagers op Akkerhuis -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Closing the Observation Gap -- 2.1. Measurements -- 2.2. Statistics -- 3. Closing the Definition Gap -- 3.1. Operator Hierarchy -- 3.2. O-life -- 3.3. S-life -- 4. Analyzing the Use of Epochs -- 5. Why on Theoretical Grounds It Is Likely that "Life" Exists Throughout the Universe -- 5.1. What Does the Concept of "Life" Refer To? -- 5.2. Can Definitions of O-life or S-life be Generalized to Extra-Terrestrial Situations? -- 5.3. Can the Concept of "Life As We Don't Know" Be Specified? -- 5.4. What Theoretical Reasoning Supports the Likelihood of "Life's" Existence Throughout the Universe? -- 6. Discussion -- 6.1. Organisms, O-life and S-life -- 6.2. Life As We Don't Know -- 6.3. What Can be Added to Current Epoch Systems? -- 7. Conclusions -- References -- Further Reading.
Subject Exobiology.
Habitable planets.
Exobiologie.
Plančtes habitables.
SCIENCE -- Life Sciences -- Biology.
SCIENCE -- Life Sciences -- Microbiology.
Exobiology
Habitable planets
Added Author Gordon, Richard, 1943- editor.
Sharov, Alexei A., editor.
Other Form: Print version: Habitability of the universe before earth. First edition. Cambridge, MA : Academic Press, [2018] 9780128119402 0128119403 (OCoLC)974699088
ISBN 9780128119419 (electronic bk.)
0128119411 (electronic bk.)
9780128119402
0128119403
Standard No. AU@ 000061502552

 
    
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