Cosmic Company: The Search for Life in the Universe

G. Seth Shostak, Alex Barnett

Cambridge University Press, Oct 30, 2003 - Nature - 161 pages

In Cosmic Company, Seth Shostak and Alex Barnett ponder the possibility of aliens visiting the Earth, as well as the consequences of receiving a signal from the cosmos proving we're neither alone, nor the most intelligent life forms. They explain why scientists think life might exist on other worlds, and how we might contact it. Shostak and Barnett, experienced writers of popular astronomy, provide an accessible overveiw of the science and technology behind the search for life in the universe. Seth Shostak is a Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute where he is involved in many of the outreach activities of the Institute, including editing the newsletter, overseeing the Web site, giving talks and writing magazine articles about SETI. He also teaches several informal education classes on astronomy and other topics in the Bay Area. Before coming to SETI, Seth did research work on galaxies using radio telescopes at observatories and universities in America and Europe. Alex Barnett is Programme Director at the National Space Centre. She is well-known in the science centre, planetarium and media worlds, particularly for public and educational programmes involving space and astronomy. She presents BBC's Final Frontier a space and astronomy programme.

What people are saying

Review: Cosmic Company: The Search for Life in the Universe

User Review  - Cyron Macey - Goodreads

An enjoyable read, but a little out of date now, and designed more for complete newcomers to astronomy and SETI.

Contents

• introduction could there be aliens?: 1
• Habitats for life: 7
• what mightthe aliens be like?: 37
• CHAPTERS intelligent life: 59
• visitors from afar: 71
• CHAPTERS HOW might we get in touch: 87
• The Drake Equation: 121
• The future: 139
• Further reading: 157

About the author

Alex Barnett is CEO of the Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland, California.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Cosmic Company: The Search for Life in the Universe
• Authors: G. Seth Shostak, Alex Barnett
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2003
• ISBN: 0521822335, 9780521822336
• Length: 161 pages
• Subjects: Nature / Sky Observation; Science / Astronomy; Science / General; Science / Life Sciences / Evolution