Five Billion Years of Solitude (eBook)

A definitive guide toastronomys hottest field.The EconomistSince its formation nearly five billion yearsago, our planet has been the sole living worldin a vast and silent universe. But over the pasttwo decades, astronomers have discoveredthousands of exoplanets, including some thatcould be similar to our own world, and thepace of discovery is accelerating.In a fascinating account of this unfoldingrevolution, Lee Billings draws on interviewswith the worlds top experts in the search forlife beyond earth. He reveals how the searchfor exoplanets is not only a scientific challenge,but also a reflection of our cultures timelesshopes, dreams, and fears.

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“A definitive guide to astronomy’s hottest field.” —The EconomistSince its formation nearly five billion years ago, our planet has been the sole living world in a vast and silent universe. But over the past two decades, astronomers have discovered thousands of “exoplanets,” including some that could be similar to our own world, and the pace of discovery is accelerating.In a fascinating account of this unfolding revolution, Lee Billings draws on interviews with the world’s top experts in the search for life beyond earth. He reveals how the search for exoplanets is not only a scientific challenge, but also a reflection of our culture’s timeless hopes, dreams, and fears.