Author: Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 90
Book Description
Astrobiology Workshop: Leadership in Astrobiology
Author: Astrobiology Workshop
Author: Geoffrey BriggsPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 14
Book Description
The first Astrobiology Workshop was held at Ames on September 9-11, 1996, bringing together a diverse group of researchers to discuss the following general questions: Where and how are other habitable worlds formed? How does life originate? How have the Earth and its biosphere influenced each other over time? Can terrestrial life be sustained beyond our planet? How can we expand the human presence to Mars? Astrobiology is defined in the 1996 NASA Strategic Plan as "The study of the living universe." The objectives of the Workshop included: discussing the scope of astrobiology, strengthening existing efforts for the study of life in the universe, identifying new cross-disciplinary programs with the greatest potential for scientific return, and suggesting steps needed to bring this program to reality. The report includes abstracts from many of the presentations made during the Workshop as well as an overview of the current state of knowledge and new directions for research in Astrobiology.
Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute
Author: National Research CouncilPublisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309114977
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 80
Book Description
Astrobiology is a scientific discipline devoted to the study of life in the universe - its origin, evolution, distribution, and future. In 1997, NASA established an Astrobiology program (the NASA Astrobiology Institute - NAI) as a result of a series of new results from solar system exploration and astronomical research in the mid-1990s together with advances in the biological sciences. To help evaluate the NAI, NASA asked the NRC to review progress made by the Institute in developing the field of astrobiology. This book presents an evaluation of NAI's success in meeting its goals for fostering interdisciplinary research, training future astrobiology researchers, providing scientific and technical leadership, exploring new research approaches with information technology, and supporting outreach to K-12 education programs.
Rare Earth
Author: Peter D. WardPublisher: Springer
ISBN: 0387218483
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
What determines whether complex life will arise on a planet, or even any life at all? Questions such as these are investigated in this groundbreaking book. In doing so, the authors synthesize information from astronomy, biology, and paleontology, and apply it to what we know about the rise of life on Earth and to what could possibly happen elsewhere in the universe. Everyone who has been thrilled by the recent discoveries of extrasolar planets and the indications of life on Mars and the Jovian moon Europa will be fascinated by Rare Earth, and its implications for those who look to the heavens for companionship.
Gallstones
Author: G. AdlerPublisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9780792387985
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 616
Book Description
This book, the proceedings of the Falk Syposium No. 139 on "Gallstones: Pathogenesis and Treatment", held in Freiburg, Germany, on January 15-16, 2004, reflects the tremendous advances in the field of biliary diseases both at the genetic and cellular as well as the clinical levels. In industrialized countries, gallstones are a frequent clinical entity with a prevalence of 10-15%. In clinical practice one can differentiate between cholesterol stones, black pigment stones and brown pigment stones. 80-90% of gallbladder stones are cholesterol stones, 10--20% are black pigment stones. The prevalence of cholesterol stones increases with age and in Europe in the 70+ age group reaches about 20% in males and about 30% in females. Gallstones and gallstone diseases, therefore, are a frequent and important clinical problem. The book addresses the basic aspects of gallstone pathogenesis as well as the non-surgical and surgical treatment of gallstone diseases. Of particular interest are the epidemiology and genetics of gallstone formation, with definition of risk factors, in particular of genetic predispositions. Other major aspects are the hepatocellular and bilary transport mechanisms that predispose to the formation of gallstones. Apart from cholesterol and lipid transport and absorption, gallbladder function plays a central role in gallstone formation. Another clinically very relevant topic is the treatment of gallstone diseases by drugs, endoscopic and other non-surgical interventions, and surgery, as well as the long-term outcome of therapeutic interventions. The volume concludes with a state-of-the-art chapter on "Gallstone Research in the Post-Genomic Era". Gallstones: Pathogenesis and Treatment is an excellent update on the pathogenesis of gallstones as well as on the treatment of gallstone diseases, written by an international faculty of outstanding clinicans and scientists. The book will, therefore, be of great interest to hepatologists and gastroenterologists in academic institutions as well as in clinical practice.
Astrobiology and Society in Europe Today
Author: Klara Anna CapovaPublisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319962655
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 72
Book Description
This White Paper describes the state of astrobiology in Europe today and its relation to the European society at large. With contributions from authors in twenty countries and over thirty scientific institutions worldwide, the document illustrates the societal implications of astrobiology and the positive contribution that astrobiology can make to European society. The White paper has two main objectives: 1. It recommends the establishment of a European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) as an answer to a series of challenges relating to astrobiology but also European research, education and the society at large. 2. It also acknowledges the societal implications of astrobiology, and thus the role of the social sciences and humanities in optimizing the positive contribution that astrobiology can make to the lives of the people of Europe and the challenges they face. This book is recommended reading for science policy makers, the interested public, and the astrobiology community.
Astrobiology of Earth
Author: Joseph GalePublisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191548359
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
The study of life in our universe has been given the name 'astrobiology'. It is a relatively new subject, but not a new discipline since it brings together several mature fields of science including astronomy, geology, biology, and climatology. An understanding of the singular conditions that allowed the only example of life that we know exists to emerge and survive on our turbulent planet is essential if we are to seek answers to two fundamental questions facing humanity: will life (and especially human life) continue on Earth, and does life exist elsewhere in the universe? Astrobiology of Earth adopts a unique approach that differs from most texts in the field which focus on the possibility of extraterrestrial life. In contrast, the central theme of this book is the fortuitous combination of numerous cosmic factors that together produced the special environment which enabled the emergence, persistence and evolution of life on our own planet, culminating in humanity. This environment has been subject to constant and chaotic change during life's 3.6 billion year history. The geologically very recent appearance of humans and their effect on the biosphere is discussed in relation to its deterioration as well as climate change. The search for extraterrestrial life is considered with a view to the suggestion that humans may escape a depleted Earth by colonizing the universe. This book contributes to our understanding of astrobiology from the perspective of life on Earth and especially human welfare and survival. Astronomical and geological phenomena are related in turn to their biological relevance and impact. This introductory text assumes little or no prior knowledge of more specialized scientific fields and is designed for undergraduate and graduate level students taking related courses in departments of biology, earth science/geology, and environmental science. It will also serve as a useful biology primer for astronomy majors.
Life in the Universe
Author: Joseph SeckbachPublisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400710038
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 387
Book Description
The year 2003 was the 50th anniversary of the seminal experiment of Stanley Miller. This was a unique opportunity for highlighting the current interest in this most interdisciplinary subject. The leading space agencies: the European Space Agency (ESA) as well as NASA, the American Space Agency, have planned missions that will elucidate some of the still unknown questions underlying research in the origin of life. New results are surpassing our ability to keep well informed: the reviews that we were presented at the Trieste meeting will bring the readers of this well-documented and timely book up to date in this fast-moving area. An important component of the conference was the review of the Cassini-Huygens mission due to arrive in the Saturn system just one year after the conference convened in Trieste. There was particular interest in the status of the experiments that will take place inside the atmosphere of Titan, the large satellite, which is a testing ground for the theories and experiments in the field of chemical evolution. The Jovian system is currently under study with the view of investigating the possibility of life underneath the frozen surface of the Galilean moon Europa; the ESA mission "Mars Express" and Mars Odyssey received special attention. Some of the world leaders in the field gathered in Trieste in September 2003 - that was a most timely date for reviewing recent data and discussing the prospects of future research.
Astrobiology, Discovery, and Societal Impact
Author: Steven J. DickPublisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108677762
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 396
Book Description
The search for life in the universe, once the stuff of science fiction, is now a robust worldwide research program with a well-defined roadmap probing both scientific and societal issues. This volume examines the humanistic aspects of astrobiology, systematically discussing the approaches, critical issues, and implications of discovering life beyond Earth. What do the concepts of life and intelligence, culture and civilization, technology and communication mean in a cosmic context? What are the theological and philosophical implications if we find life - and if we do not? Steven J. Dick argues that given recent scientific findings, the discovery of life in some form beyond Earth is likely and so we need to study the possible impacts of such a discovery and formulate policies to deal with them. The remarkable and often surprising results are presented here in a form accessible to disciplines across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Searching for Life Across Space and Time
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and MedicinePublisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309463971
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 133
Book Description
The search for life is one of the most active fields in space science and involves a wide variety of scientific disciplines, including planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics, chemistry, biology, chemistry, and geoscience. In December 2016, the Space Studies Board hosted a workshop to explore the possibility of habitable environments in the solar system and in exoplanets, techniques for detecting life, and the instrumentation used. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.
