Bioastronomy

Contains a selection of papers presented at a symposium on the search for intelligent life in the universe. The contributors discuss such topics as the formation and discovery of planets, organic chemistry in meteorites, the search for primitive life in our galaxy and the SETI project.

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This text collects together a selection of the papers presented at the 3rd International Bioastronomy Symposium. The subject is the search for life in the universe, and the book is divided according to the main stages of life as recognized by this new branch of science - cosmic organic, prebiotic, primitive biological and advanced. The contributors discussed such topics of recent interest as the formation and discovery of planets, organic chemistry in meteorites and comets, prebiotic chemistry in the atmosphere of Titan, the search for primitive life in the permafrost of Mars, and, SETI itself, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Complemented by conference discussions, each presentation forms a review of the state-of-the-art treatment of a particular area and also examines those developments in bioastronomy which will surely be realized in the next few years.