Dimensions
163 x 242 x 25mm
How the New Science of Astrobiology Charts the Ultimate Fate of Our World.
Science has worked hard to piece together the story of the evolution of our world up to this point, but only recently have we developed the understanding and the tools to describe the entire life cycle of our planet. Peter Ward, a geologist and paleontologist, and Donald Brownlee, a leading astronomer, are in the vanguard of the new field of astrobiology.
Combining their understanding of how the Earth worked in the past with their knowledge of the life cycles of stars and solar systems, the authors tell the story of the second half of the Earth's life. There will not be one ending, but a succession of dramatic shifts in climate, biology, landform and atmosphere; the process of planetary evolution will essentially reverse itself - life as we know it will subside until only the simplest forms remain, until, as the sun slowly expands, Earth itself eventually meets a fiery end.
In this landmark book, two distinguished scientists use groundbreaking research and eloquent science writing to give an awe-inspiring portrait of Earth's ultimate fate; they also demonstrate how rare, precious and fragile our home planet is and how our stewardship of it can profoundly affect its future.
