Main description:

Leading researchers in the area of the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe contributed to Exobiology: Matter, Energy, and Information in the Origin and Evolution of Life in the Universe. This volume provides a review of this interdisciplinary field. In 50 chapters many aspects that contribute to exobiology are reviewed by 90 authors. These include: historical perspective of biological evolution; cultural aspects of exobiology, cosmic, chemical and biological evolution, molecular biology, geochronology, biogeochemistry, biogeology, and planetology. Some of the current missions are discussed. Other subjects in the frontier of exobiology are reviewed, such as the search for planets outside the solar system, and the possible manifestation of intelligence in those new potential environments. The SETI research effort is well represented in this general overview of exobiology. This book is the proceedings of the Fifth Trieste Conference on Chemical Evolution that took place in September 1997. The volume is dedicated to the memory of Nobel Laureate Abdus Salam who suggested the initiation of the Trieste conferences on chemical evolution and the origin of life.
Audience: Graduate students and researchers in the many areas of basic, earth, and life sciences that contribute to the study of chemical evolution and the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe.

Contents:

Preface. Opening Address; F.K.A. Allotey. Section 1: General Overview. Section 2: Matter in the Origin and Evolution of Life in the Universe. Section 3: Energy from Inert to Living Matter. Section 4: Information. Section 5: Early Evolution. Section 6: Exobiology: General Perspectives. Section 7: Exobiology on Mars and Europa. Section 8: The Interstellar Medium, Comets and Chemical Evolution. Section 9: Exobiology on Titan. Section 10: Extrasolar Planets. Section 11: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Author Index. Subject Index. List of Participants.