Astrobiology

Concise, easy-to-read reviews of many fascinating topics

Descriptions of the latest findings

Guidance on further reading

Contributions from experts in various fields

Concise, easy-to-read reviews of many fascinating topics Descriptions of the latest findings Guidance on further reading Contributions from experts in various fields

Autorentext

Akihiko Yamagishi

Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science. He received Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo. He had been the representative of Japan Astrobiology Network for ten years. He is a microbiologist especially interested in thermophiles and airborne microbes. He is the Principal Investigator of the space experiment "Tanpopo" carried on International Space Station. He is also interested in molecular evolution and succeeded in resurrecting the ancient protein that was possessed by the common ancestor of all the living organisms about 4 billion years ago.

Takeshi Kakegawa Professor of geochemistry at Tohoku University. He received Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University. He has been finding traces of life in ancient rocks. He and his colleagues were performing unique experiments to synthesize prebiotic organic molecules. He is trying to integrate geological and chemical information together to find theplausible pathway for the origin of life on the Earth. He is the fellow of honorable society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Tomohiro Usui Professor of Department of Solar System Sciences, Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. He received a diploma in geology from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. He finished Ph.D. (geochemistry) under the supervision of Prof. Eizo Nakamura at the Institute for Study of the Earth's Interior (ISEI), Misasa in 2004. Thereafter, he worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in the University of Tennessee and NASA Johnson Space Center. In April 2012 he joined the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology as a faculty member. His current research interest includes the historical evolution of climate, oceans/lakes, and habitability on Mars.

Inhalt

Part I Introduction to astrobiology.- 1. What is astrobiology.- Part II Physics and chemistry from space to life.- 2. Theory of universe and life.- 3. Complex organic molecules in Space.- 4. Chemical relationships among organics, water and minerals in the early Solar System.- 5. Prebiotic synthesis of bioorganic compounds by simulation experiments.- 6. RNA synthesis before the origin of life.- Part III History of life reveiled from bilology.- 7. RNA world.- 8. Common ancestor.- 9. Eukaryotes appearing.- 10. Collor of photosynthetic system.- 11. Evolution of photosynthetic system.- 12. History and evolution of intelligence on the Earth.- Part IV History of the Earth reveiled from geology.- 13. Origin of planets.- 14. Evolution of early atmosphere.- 15. Biogenic graphite in ancient rocks.- 16. Fossilized early cells and their implications for biotic diversity in the Archean.- 17. Great oxidation event.- 18. Mass extinction P-Tr.- 19. Mass extinction at K-Pg boundary.- Part V. Search for life in solar system and extra solar system.- 20. Limits of terrestrial life and biosphere.- 21. Mars we know of.- 22. Atmosphere of Mars.- 23. Life search on Mars.- 24. Active surface and interior of Europa as a potential deep habitat.- 25. Enceladus.- 26. Titan.- 27. Panspermia hypothesis.- 28. Extra-solar planetary systems.- 29. Life in a second earth.- 30. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence.- 31. Possible impact if extraterrestrial life, if it were to be found.