1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910483906203321

Titolo

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology [[electronic resource] /] / edited by Ricardo Amils, José Cernicharo Quintanilla, Henderson James Cleaves, William M. Irvine, Daniele Pinti, Michel Viso

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Berlin, Heidelberg : , : Springer Berlin Heidelberg : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2011

ISBN

3-642-11274-9

Edizione

[1st ed. 2011.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (eReference.)

Collana

Springer reference Encyclopedia of astrobiology

Disciplina

546.83903

Soggetti

Astrobiology

Bioorganic chemistry

Biochemistry

Planetology

Astrophysics

Geobiology

Bioorganic Chemistry

Biochemistry, general

Astrophysics and Astroparticles

Biogeosciences

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

"With 547 figures and 68 tables."

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

The encyclopedia comprises approximately 1700 entries from the following fields: Astrophysics -- Astrochemistry -- Planetology -- Space Science -- Space Missions and Planetary Protection -- Geology -- Geochemisty -- Geomicrobiology -- Traces of Life -- Chemistry -- Biochemistry -- Biology -- Microbiology -- Origins of Life -- Artificial Life -- Epistemology. The alphabetical part is complemented by: Astrobiological Data -- Astronomical Data -- Geological Data -- Chemical and Biological Data -- Chronological History of Life on Earth.

Sommario/riassunto

The interdisciplinary field of Astrobiology constitutes a joint arena where provocative discoveries are coalescing concerning, e.g. the prevalence of exoplanets, the diversity and hardiness of life, and its



increasingly likely chances for its emergence. Biologists, astrophysicists, biochemists, geoscientists and space scientists share this exciting mission of revealing the origin and commonality of life in the Universe. The members of the different disciplines are used to their own terminology and technical language. In the interdisciplinary environment many terms either have redundant meanings or are completely unfamiliar to members of other disciplines. The Encyclopedia of Astrobiology serves as the key to a common understanding. Each new or experienced researcher and graduate student in adjacent fields of astrobiology will appreciate this reference work in the quest to understand the big picture. The carefully selected group of active researchers contributing to this work and the expert field editors intend for their contributions, from an internationally comprehensive perspective, to accelerate the interdisciplinary advance of astrobiology.