Lucky Planet: Why Earth Is Exceptional - and What That Means for Life in the Universe
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.59 (758 Votes) |
| Asin | : | B00JAEL6NM |
| Format Type | : | |
| Number of Pages | : | 284 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-08-28 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
The four-billion-year stretch of good weather that our planet has experienced is statistically so unlikely that chances are slim that we will ever encounter intelligent extraterrestrial others. A lively exploration of the stars above and the ground beneath our feet, Lucky Planet seamlessly weaves the story of Earth and the worlds orbiting other stars to give us a new perspective of the surprising role chance plays in our place in the universe.. Yet even as we become aware of the vast expanses beyond our solar system, it remains clear that Earth is exceptional. The question is: Why? In Lucky Planet, astrobiologist David Waltham argues that Earth's climate stability is what makes it uniquely able to support life, and it is nothing short of luck that made such conditions possible. Citing the factors that typically control a planet's average temperature - including the size of its moon, as well as the rate of the Universe's expansion - Waltham challenges the prevailing scientific consensus that Earth-like planets have natural stabilizing mechanisms that allow life to flourish. Why Earth's life-friendly climate makes
Frank Coulter said He's probably right, but. An enjoyable read, though I didn't find much that was new to me. The author is a physicist, and didn't get into the biology of the origin of life to any great extent. I was also looking for a convincing and succinct summary of his arguments that the Earth is possibly unique in ou g. John said Alone and We Don't Know It.. This is a very good read. It gives good explanations as to why we have not seen aliens from space.. Great book. Judge for yourself. Roger Doger This book is well written and very interesting. It is easy to under stand by the average person. He makes his case from several stand points. Though the earth seems mediocre it is really rare. His discussion includes the mass extinctions and what happens over the four billion years