Alien Earths
The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos
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Narrated by:
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Cassandra Campbell
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Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger
About this listen
This program features an introduction and epilogue read by the author.
"In the grand tradition of Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson, we now have a new tour guide to the cosmos."―Charles Cockell, Professor of Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh
"Absorbing, informative, and entertaining."―Kirkus (Starred Review)
“[Dr. Lisa] Kaltenegger's accessible scholarship and [Cassandra] Campbell's grounded performance encourage listeners to gaze skyward and wonder.”—AudioFile
Riveting and timely, a look at the research that is transforming our understanding of the cosmos in the quest to discover whether we are alone.
For thousands of years, humans have wondered whether we're alone in the cosmos. Now, for the first time, we have the technology to investigate. But once you look for life elsewhere, you realize it is not so simple. How do you find it over cosmic distances? What actually is life?
As founding director of Cornell University's Carl Sagan Institute, astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger has built a team of tenacious scientists from many disciplines to create a specialized toolkit to find life on faraway worlds. In Alien Earths, she demonstrates how we can use our homeworld as a Rosetta Stone, creatively analyzing Earth's history and its astonishing biosphere to inform this search. With infectious enthusiasm, she takes us on an eye-opening journey to the most unusual exoplanets that have shaken our worldview—planets covered in oceans of lava, lonely wanderers lost in space, and others with more than one sun in their sky! And the best contenders for Alien Earths. We also see the imagined worlds of science fiction and how close they come to reality.
With the James Webb Space Telescope and Dr. Kaltenegger’s pioneering work, she shows that we live in an incredible new epoch of exploration. As our witty and knowledgeable tour guide, Dr. Kaltenegger shows how we discover not merely new continents, like the explorers of old, but whole new worlds circling other stars and how we could spot life there. Worlds from where aliens may even be gazing back at us. What if we're not alone?
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
©2024 Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger (P)2024 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has attracted one of the world’s largest online followings with his fascinating, widely accessible insights into science and our universe. Now, Tyson invites us to go behind the scenes of his public fame by unveiling his candid correspondence with people across the globe who have sought him out in search of answers. In this hand-picked collection of 100 letters, Tyson draws upon cosmic perspectives to address a vast array of questions about science, faith, philosophy, life, and of course, Pluto.
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Dear Neil...
- By Tina G. on 10-14-19
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What listeners say about Alien Earths
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- Vladimir Randy Jeune
- 11-02-24
I really enjoyed her perspective on the subject
This book made me think about the Universe in an awe inspiring way. There is so much out there that we can learn before we get the ability to go visit these alien worlds. It also reminds us that we have to take care of the only planet that we evolved on.
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- Texas Tim
- 08-09-24
Engrossing! Very well conceived and written.
Loved it! I found this book, written by an accomplished scientist with a doctorate, to be very interesting and engaging and easy to follow( I am not a scientist). It was so well conceived and written that it can be enjoyed by anyone interested in the subject of exoplanets. There are plenty of explanations, comparisons and examples to help convey the concepts discussed. I liked the many personal insights and experiences included, and of course the humor too! It left me wanting more and has renewed my own interest in the subject. Solid performance by Ms Campbell on the reading.
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- Andi
- 08-08-24
answers big questions
Well narrated and tackles one of our most enduring questions - are we alone. Very enjoyable and thought-provoking.
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