Life in the Universe

Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Louis N. Irwin3-540-20627-2, 9783540206279

In the present book the authors attempt an operatinal defintion of life and investigate all possibilities that nature offers to realize this very special state of matter. Of particular interest are exotic life foorms, i.e. those which would not have to rely on carbon as basic chemical elements, solar enrgy as main energy source or water as primary solvent. Finally the question of detecting bio and geosignature of such life forms is dicussed, ranging from earth environments to deep space.