Overview

In 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus fomented a revolution when he debunked the geocentric view of the universe, proving instead that our planet wasn't central to the universe. Almost five hundred years later, the revolution he set in motion is nearly complete. Just as earth is not the centre of things, the life on it, it appears, is not unique to the planet. Or is it? The Life of Super-Earths is a breathtaking tour of current efforts to answer the age-old question: Are we alone in the universe? Astronomer Dimitar Sasselov, the founding director of Harvard University's Origins of Life Initiative, takes us on a fast-paced hunt for habitable planets and alien life forms. He shows how the search for""super-Earths”- rocky planets like our own that orbit other stars- may provide the key to answering essential questions about the origins of life here and elsewhere. That is, if we don't find the answers to those questions here first. As Sasselov and other astronomers have uncovered planets with mixes of elements different from our own, chemists have begun working out the heretofore unseen biochemistries that those planets could support. That knowledge is feeding directly into synthetic biology- the effort to build wholly novel forms of life- making it likely that we will first discover truly""alien” life forms in an earthly lab, rather than on a remote planet thousands of light years away. Sasselov tells the gripping story of a moment of unprecedented potential- a convergence of pioneering efforts in astronomy and biology to peer into the unknown. The Life of Super-Earths offers nothing short of a transformation in our understanding of life and its place in the cosmos.

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<p> Kirkus Reviews (starred review)<br> Short, cogent and stimulating <br>Andrew H. Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard University, and author of Life on a Young Planet In engaging prose, Dimitar Sasselov explains how remarkable breakthroughs in astronomy are reframing one of humankind's oldest questions--are we alone in the universe? The Life of Super-Earths provides nutrition for the lively mind. Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director of Exhibitions and Programmes, Serpentine Gallery<br> Dimitar Sasselov once told me that 'biology is the future of astronomy, ' a statement which amazed and intrigued me. In this new brilliant book he explains why his expanded notion of astronomy includes biology, and geology and chemistry, in its exciting search for new planets, new worlds, and new life. Sasselov is one of the great public intellectuals of the 21st century. He inspires artists, architects, philosophers and many others. It is urgent to read Sasselov. Nature In this sh

<p> Kirkus Reviews (starred review)<br> Short, cogent and stimulating <br>Andrew H. Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard University, and author of Life on a Young Planet In engaging prose, Dimitar Sasselov explains how remarkable breakthroughs in astronomy are reframing one of humankind's oldest questions--are we alone in the universe? The Life of Super-Earths provides nutrition for the lively mind. Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director of Exhibitions and Programmes, Serpentine Gallery<br> Dimitar Sasselov once told me that 'biology is the future of astronomy, ' a statement which amazed and intrigued me. In this new brilliant book he explains why his expanded notion of astronomy includes biology, and geology and chemistry, in its exciting search for new planets, new worlds, and new life. Sasselov is one of the great public intellectuals of the 21st century. He inspires artists, architects, philosophers and many others. It is urgent to read Sasselov.

Author Information

Dimitar Sasselov is a Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University and the Founder and Director of the Harvard Origins of Life Initiative. His research has been covered by the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and others. He lives in Auburndale, Massachusetts.

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