Astrobiology The Quest for the Conditions of Life [Paperback]

This book bridges a gap in the literature by bringing together leading specialists from different backgrounds. It addresses the specific need for a readable book on this very interdisciplinary and new topic at research level.

How did life originate in the universe? How did it all start after the creation of matter and the formation of elements in the stars? What are the pathways from the first organic molecules in space to the evolution of complex life forms on Earth and perhaps elsewhere? And how will it all end? The Universe itself sets the stage for the very interdisciplinary field of astrobiology that attempts to answer such questions, the central one being: What is the (cosmic) recipe for life? Currently there are only very few known elements in this vast mosaic. This book bridges a gap in the literature by bringing together leading specialists from different backgrounds who lecture on their fields, with close relevance to astrobiology, providing tutorial accounts that lead all the way to the forefront of research. The book will thus be useful for students, lecturers and reseachers alike.I Organic Material in Space and Habitable Zones.- 1 From Molecular Clouds to the Origin of Life.- 1.1 The Search for Large Organic Molecules in Dense Clouds.- 1.1.1 The Search for Amino Acids in the Interstellar Medium.- 1.1.2 Organic Molecules in our Galactic Center.- 1.2 Molecules in Protoplanetary Disks.- 1.3 Diffuse Interstellar Clouds.- 1.4 The Evolution of Organic Molecules During Solar System Formation.- 1.4.1 Comets.- 1.4.2 Meteorites.- 1.5 Implications for the Origin of Life on Earth.- 1.6 Conclusions.- 1.7 References.- 2 The Diversity of Extrasolar Planets Around Solar-Type Stars.- 2.1 Detections: Milestones and Recent Announcements.- 2.2 Very Recent ELODIE and CORALIE Detections.- 2.3 Observed Properties of Extrasolar Planets.- 2.4 Hot Jupiters.- 2.4.1 Hot Jupiters: Direct Detections.- 2.5 The Mass Function of Substellar Companions.- 2.6 Orbital Elel“½