Books and Publications
Publications of Interest
to Astrobiology
2010:
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Origin of Life Recent Contributions to a Scientific
Model
Hernani L.S. Maria,Keith G. Orrell and Ildaa V.R. Dias
Is accessible free on charge on
http://www.archive.org/stream/OriginOfLife?ui=embed
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Ehrenfreund P. et al. (2010) Toward a Global Space Exploration Program:
A Stepping Stone Approach, PEX report of the Committee On Space Research
(COSPAR),
available under: http://cosparhq.cnes.fr/PEX_Report2010_June22a.pdf
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Horneck G., Coradini A., Haerendel G., Kallenrode M.-B., Kamoun P.,
Swings J- P., Tobias A., Tortora J.-J. (2010) Towards a European vision
for space exploration: Recommendations of the space advisory group of
the European Commission. Space Policy, 26, 109-112,
doi:10.1016/j.spacepol.2010
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de la Torre R., Le. G. Sancho, G. Horneck, A. de los Ríos, J. Wierzchos,
K. Olsson-Francis, C. S. Cockell, P. Rettberg, T. Berger, J,-P. P. de
Vera, S. Ott, J. Martinez Frías, P. G. Melendi, M. M. Lucas, M. Reina,
A. Pintado, René Demets, 2010, Survival of lichens and bacteria exposed
to outer space conditions – Results of the Lithopanspermia experiments.
Icarus, 208, 735-748. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.03.010
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- Space microbiology
Horneck, G., D.M. Klaus, and R.L. Mancinelli (2010) Space microbiology.
Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 74, 121-156 (for a copy contact
gerda.horneck@dlr.de)
- Habitability Primer, Special Issue of Astrobiology 2010
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Volume: 10, Number: 1 January 2010
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This issue acknowledges also EANA because many EANA related colleagues were involved and the whole issue is available online as pdf via the link below. It represents more or less the latest stage of Habitability knowledge on exoplanets, etc.
The above issue is now available online from Liebert Online at:
www.liebertonline.com/toc/ast/10/1?ai=sw&ui=11z5y&af=H
- "The Fate of Amino Acids during Simulated Meteoritic Impact."
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Bertrand, M., van der Gaast, S., Vilas, F., Hörz, F., Haynes, G., Chabin, A., Brack, A., Westall, F.
Astrobiology. December 2009,
9(10): 943-951.
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Delivery of prebiotic molecules, such as amino acids and peptides, in meteoritic/micrometeoritic materials to early Earth during the first 500 million years is considered to be one of the main processes by which the building blocks of life arrived on Earth. In this context, we present a study in which the effects of impact shock on amino acids and a peptide in artificial meteorites composed of saponite clay were investigated. The samples were subjected to pressures ranging from 12–28.9GPa, which simulated impact velocities of 2.4–5.8km/s for typical silicate-silicate impacts on Earth. Volatilization was determined by weight loss measurement, and the amino acid and peptide response was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. For all compounds, degradation increased with peak pressure. At the highest shock pressures, amino acids with an alkyl side chain were more resistant than those with functional side chains. The peptide cleaved into its two primary amino acids. Some chiral amino acids experienced partial racemization during the course of the experiment. Our data indicate that impact shock may act as a selective filter to the delivery of extraterrestrial amino acids via carbonaceous chondrites.
2008:
- "Amino Acids and the Asymmetry of Life -
Caught in the Act of Formation"
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Uwe Meierhenrich.
Hardcover,
ISBN: 978-3-540-76885-2
(due August 27, 2008)
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"How did life originate and why were left-handed molecules selected for its architecture?" This question of high public and interdisciplinary scientific interest is the central theme of this book. It is widely known that in processes triggering the origin of life on Earth, the equal occurrence, the parity between left-handed amino acids and their right-handed mirror images, was violated. The balance was inevitably tipped to the left - as a result of which life's proteins today exclusively implement the left form of amino acids.
Written in an engaging style, this book describes how the basic building blocks of life, the amino acids, formed. After a comprehensible introduction to stereochemistry, the author addresses the inherent property of amino acids in living organisms, namely the preference for left-handedness. What was the cause for the violation of parity of amino acids in the emergence of life on Earth? All the fascinating models proposed by physicists, chemists and biologist are vividly presented including the scientific conflicts. The author describes the attempt to verify any of those models with the chirality module of the ROSETTA mission, a probe built and launched with the mission to land on a comet and analyse whether there are chiral organic compounds that could have been brought to the Earth by cometary impacts.
A truly interdisciplinary astrobiology book, "Amino Acids and the Asymmetry of Life" will fascinate students, researchers and all readers with backgrounds in natural sciences.
With a foreword by Henri B. Kagan.
- "Cold Aqueous Planetary Geochemistry with
FREZCHEM"
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From Modeling to the Search for Life at the Limits
Marion, Giles M., Kargel, Jeffey S.
2008, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-75678-1
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This book explicitly investigates issues of astrobiological
relevance in the context
of cold aqueous planetary geochemistry.
At the core of the technical chapters is the FREZCHEM model,
initially developed
over many years by one of the authors to quantify aqueous
electrolyte properties and
chemical thermodynamics at subzero temperatures. FREZCHEM, of
general relevance to
biogeochemists and geochemical modelers, cold planetary scientists,
physicochemists
and chemical engineers, is subsequently applied to the exploration
of biogeochemical
applications to solar systems bodies in general, and to speculations
about the
limits for life in cold environments in particular.
Written for:
Researchers, scientists
2007:
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"Life in the Universe: A Beginner's Guide"
Lewis Dartnell, Oneworld Publication 2007
"This book is an excellent introduction into the newly emerging and exciting
field of astrobiology. The lively writing makes it a pleasure to read for
experts in the field and likewise it will encourage newcomers to learn more
about astrobiology, the fascinating story of life in its cosmic context."
Gerda Horneck, German Aerospace Centre DLR in Cologne, Germany
For more information:
http://www.astrobiologysociety.org
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"Planets & Life: The Emerging Science of Astrobiology"
Woodruff Sullivan & John Baross (eds.). Cambridge Univ. Pr. (2007)
Twenty-eight chapters (650 pp) by experts on all aspects of astrobiology;
designed for advanced undergraduates and postgraduate students in the
sciences, as well as professionals who want to learn the basics outside
their own field; also appropriate as a textbook for astrobiology courses.
For more information:
http://www.cambridge.org
"Complete Course in Astrobiology"
Gerda Horneck (Editor), Petra Rettberg (Editor)
Wiley 2007
This up-to-date resource is based on lectures developed by experts in the relevant fields and carefully edited by the leading astrobiologists within the European community. Aimed at graduate students in physics, astronomy and biology and their lecturers, the text begins with a general introduction to astrobiology, followed by sections on basic prebiotic chemistry, extremophiles, and habitability in our solar system and beyond. A discussion of astrodynamics leads to a look at experimental facilities and instrumentation for space experiments and, ultimately, astrobiology missions, backed in each case by the latest research results from this fascinating field. Includes a CD-ROM with additional course material.
For more information:
http://eu.wiley.com/
Book review:
http://www.astrobiologysociety.org
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"Response of
organisms to the Martian Environment"
ESA SP 1299, European Space Agency,
ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
"This is the final report of the ESA Topical Team ROME"
Cockell, C.S. and Horneck, G. (Scientific Editors) (2007) ROME
- "Lectures in Astrobiology"
Volume II
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Volume package Lectures in Astrobiology
Gargaud, Muriel; Martin, Hervé; Claeys, Philippe (Eds.)
2007, Hardcover,
ISBN: 978-3-540-33692-1
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Based on material delivered at several summer schools, this book is
the firstcomprehensive textbook at the graduate level encompassing all
aspects associated
with the emerging field of astrobiology.
Volume II gathers another set of extensive lectures covering topics
so diverse as
the formation and the distribution of elements in the universe, the
concept of
habitability from both the planetologists' and the biologists' point of
view and
artificial life. The contributions are held together by the common goal
to
understand better the origin of life, its evolution and possible
existence outside
the Earth's realm.
The volume ends with 120 pages of a very useful appendix comprising
"Some
Astrophysical Reminders", "Useful Astrobiological Data" and "An
Astrobiological Glossary".
Written for:
Advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students, nonspecialist
and specialist
researchers
For more information:
http://www.springer.com/series/7565
Past years:
- "Looking for Life. Searching the Solar
System". Clancy, P., Brack, A., and Horneck, G. Cambridge University Press.
- In the series "Advances in Astrobiology and
Biogeophysics" of Springer, Heidelberg, the following books have been issued:
- Peter Ulmschneider: Intelligent Life in the Universe
- Radu Popa: Searching for the Definition and Origin of Life
- Dirk Schulze-Makuch und Louis N. Irwin: Life in the Universe
- Tetsuya Tokano (Editor): Water on Mars and Life
- More Information under:
http://www.springer.com/series/5118
- The book "Astrobiology, the Quest for the Conditions
of
Life", edited by
Gerda Horneck und Christa Baumstark-Khan, Springer Publisher, is sold out. It can be downloaded (also chapterwise) under http://www.dlr.de/me/Aktuelles.
- In German language: Telepolis Special, Wie Forscher und
Raumfahrer Aliens aufspüren wollen,
01/2005, Heise Zeitschriften Verlag, Heidelberg.
www.telepolis.de, more info from Harald Zaun:
nc-zaunha@netcologne.de
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"Lectures in Astrobiology"
Volume I
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Volume package Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics
2005, Hardcover
Gargaud, M.; Barbier, B.; Martin, H.; Reisse, J. (Eds.)
ISBN: 978-3-540-22315-3
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This book is the first comprehensive textbook at the graduate level
encompassing all
aspects that are associated with the emerging field of astrobiology.
Volume I
gathers a first set of extensive lectures that cover a broad range of
topics, from
the formation of solar system to the quest for the most primitive life
forms that
have emerged on the Early Earth.
Written for:
Advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students, nonspecialist
and specialist
researchers
For more information:
http://www.springer.com/series/5282
- "Lectures in Astrobiology"
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Vol I : Part 1: The Early Earth and Other Cosmic Habitats for
Life,
Study Edition
Volume package Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics
Editor-in-chief: Gargaud, Muriel
Barbier, Bernard; Martin, Hervé; Reisse, Jacques (Eds.)
2006, Softcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-29005-6
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This is the first of a divided two-part softcover edition of the
"Lectures in
Astrobiology Volume I" containing the sections "General Introduction",
"The Early
Earth and Other Cosmic Habitats for Life" and "Appendices" including an
extensive
glossary on Astrobiology.
"Lectures in Astrobiology" is the first comprehensive textbook at
graduate level
encompassing all aspects of the emerging field of astrobiology. Volume I
of the
Lectures in Astrobiology gathers a first set of extensive lectures that
cover a
broad range of topics, from the formation of solar systems to the quest
for the most
primitive life forms that emerged on the Early Earth.
Written for:
Graduate students, lecturers, nonspecialist and specialist researchers
For more information:
http://www.springer.com/series/5282
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"Lectures in Astrobiology"
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Vol I : Part 2: From Prebiotic Chemistry to the Origin of Life on Earth
Study Edition
Volume package Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics
Editor-in-chief: Gargaud, Muriel
Barbier, Bernard; Martin, Hervé; Reisse, Jacques (Eds.)
2006, Softcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-29004-9
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This is the second of a divided two-part softcover edition of the
"Lectures in
Astrobiology Volume I" containing the sections "General Introduction",
"From
Prebiotic Chemistry to the Origin of Life on Earth" and "Appendices"
including an
extensive glossary on Astrobiology.
"Lectures in Astrobiology" is the first comprehensive textbook at
graduate level
encompassing all aspects of the emerging field of astrobiology. Volume I
of the
Lectures in Astrobiology gathers a first set of extensive lectures that
cover a
broad range of topics, from the formation of solar systems to the quest
for the most
primitive life forms that emerged on the Early Earth.
Written for:
Graduate students, lecturers, nonspecialist and specialist
researchers
For more information:
http://www.springer.com/series/5282
- "Micrometeorites and the Mysteries of Our
Origins"
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Maurette, M.
2006, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-25816-2
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Micrometeorites played an essential role in the formation of the
atmosphere of the
Early Earth and also served as a significant source of activation
for organic
prebiotic chemistry on mineral surfaces. The present book gives a
coherent account
of this scenario, embedding the more specific results within a
broader framework
that considers the creation and evolution of the Early Earth. It
thus addresses
students and nonspecialist researchers in the fields of planetary
atmospheres,
biogeophysics and astrobiology. The experienced researcher will find
this volume to
be a modern and compact reference, as well as a source of material for
lectures in
this field.
Written for:
Students, specialist and nonspecialist researchers
- "Between Necessity and Probability:
Searching for the Definition and Origin of Life"
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Popa, Radu
2004, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-20490-9
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This study investigates the major theories of the origins of life in the
light of
modern research with the aim of distinguishing between the necessary and
the
optional and between deterministic and random influences in the
emergence of what we
call 'life.' Life is treated as a cosmic phenomenon whose emergence and
driving
force should be viewed independently from its Earth-bound natural
history. The
author synthesizes all the fundamental life-related developments in a
comprehensive
scenario, and makes the argument that understanding life in its broadest
context
requires a material-independent perspective that identifies its
essential
fingerprints.
Written for:
Specialist and nonspecialist researchers
- "Life in the Universe"
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Expectations and Constraints
Schulze-Makuch, Dirk, Irwin, Louis N.
1st ed 2004. 2nd printing, 2006, Softcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-30708-2
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Energy, chemistry, solvents, and habitats - the basic elements of living
systems -
define the opportunities and limitations for life on other worlds. This
study
examines each of these parameters in crucial depth and makes the
argument that life
forms we would recognize may be more common in our solar system than
many assume. It
also considers, however, exotic forms of life that would not have to
rely on carbon
as the basic chemical element, solar energy as the main energy source,
or water as
the primary solvent. Finally the question of detecting bio- and
geosignature of such
life forms is discussed, ranging from earth environments to deep space.
While
speculative considerations in this emerging field of science cannot be
avoided, the
authors have tried to present their study with the breadth and
seriousness that a
scientific approach to this issue requires. They seek an operational
definition of
life and investigate the realm of possibilities that nature offers to
realize this
very special state of matter and avoid scientific jargon wherever
possible to make
this intrinsically interdisciplinary subject understandable to a broad
range of
readers.
Written for:
Graduate students in the natural and life sciences
- "Comets and the Origin and Evolution of Life"
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Thomas, P.J.; Hicks, R.D.; Chyba, C.F.; McKay, C.P. (Eds.)
Originally published as a monograph
2nd ed., 2006, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-33086-8
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Nine years after the publication of Comets and the Origin and
Evolution of Life, one
of the pioneering books in Astrobiology, this second edition
revisits the role
comets may have played in the origins and evolution of life. Recent
analyses of
Antarctic micrometeorites and ancient rocks in Australia and South
Africa, the
continuing progress in discovering complex organic macromolecules in
comets,
protostars and interstellar clouds, new insights into organic synthesis
in comets,
and numerical simulations of comet impacts on the Earth and other
members of the
solar system yield a spectacular wealth of new results.
This second edition is thus actually a new book. As the first edition it
is intended
as a comprehensive review of current research, accessible to graduate
students and
others new to the field. Each chapter was prepared by experts to give an
overview of
an aspect of the field, and carefully revised by the editors for
uniformity in style
and presentation.
Written for:
Astronomers, geophysicists, biologists
- "Water on Mars and Life"
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Tokano, Tetsuya (Ed.)
2005, Hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-540-20624-8
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Growing evidence, based on observations from orbiters, landers and
telescopes,
indicates that Mars may still have numerous hidden water reservoirs.
Moreover, from
the point of view of habitability, Mars is a prime target for
astrobiologists in
search of extant or extinct microbial life because we know that life
exists in
earth's permafrost regions, such as parts of Siberia and the Antarctic,
which are
the closest terrestrial analogues to Mars. Water on Mars and Life
surveys recent
advances made in research into water on Mars together with its
astrobiological
implications. This volume addresses not only scientists working in the
field but
also nonspecialists and students in search of a high-level but
accessible
introduction to this exciting field of research.
Written for:
Graduate students, researchers
