This book is a collection of essays written by the very scientists and engineers who have led, and continue to lead, the scientific quest known as SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Divided into three parts, the first section, ‘The Spirit of SETI Past’, written by the surviving pioneers of this then emerging discipline, reviews the major projects undertaken during the first 50 years of SETI science and the results of that research. In the second section, ‘The Spirit of SETI Present’, the present-day science and technology is discussed in detail, providing the technical background to contemporary SETI instruments, experiments, and analytical techniques, including the processing of the received signals to extract potential alien communications. In the third and final section, ‘The Spirit of SETI Future’, the book looks ahead to the possible directions that SETI will take in the next 50 years, addressing such important topics as interstellar message construction, the risks and assumptions of interstellar communications, when we might make contact, what aliens might look like and what is likely to happen in the aftermath of such a contact.

Every day thousands of scientists search the universe for living extraterrestrials in fantastic settings from the methane seas of Saturn's moon to planets in the Libra constellation. The Search for Extraterrestrial Life explores the cutting edge theories, NASA missions, and deep space exploration in the pursuit of alien microbes and sentient beings.

Looks at SETI's validity as a research programme and examines recent attempts to contact other intelligent life forms. Also assesses theories on the origin of life on Earth, discoveries of former solar planets and proposals for space colonies.

Bantam 1992The Aegean, ex-agent Michael Vance pilots the Odyssey II, a handmade replica. A Russian gunship with Arab terrorists takes a tiny island where a U.S. corporation has a laser space facility. The renegades convert the launch vehicle into a ballistic missile that can deliver their stolen nuclear warhead to any city in the U.S. Can Vance stop them?Idea points: Aerospace, Ulysses,

Astrophysicist Adam Frank guides us through the search for extraterrestrial life and questions we stand ready to answer.

This book describes a wide variety of speculations by many authors about the consequences for humanity of coming into contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The assumptions underlying those speculations are examined, and some conclusions are drawn. The book emphasizes the consequences of contact rather than the search, and takes account of popular views. As necessary background, the book also includes brief summaries of the history of thinking about extraterrestrial intelligence, searches for life and for signals, contrasting paradigms of how contact might take place, and the paradox that those paradigms allegedly create.

Astronomer and science writer David Whitehouse takes us on a journey through the evolving cosmos as he considers humankind's place in the universe - and how our survival depends on otherworldly perspectives. From the Earth to the depths of outer space, this inspiring book shows how human evolution has been intertwined with the workings of the cosmos from the very beginning, and what the far-distant future may hold, both for the universe and for ourselves. Given enough time, Whitehouse contends, we must communicate with intelligent aliens whose divergent perspective will transform our understanding of the universe. First contact may even come sooner than we think. We have already transmitted signals towards promising exoplanets. If, say, Gliese 581d harbours life, the return signal could reach us in 2051. Drawing the thread of human consciousness from the cave to the cosmos, the acclaimed author of Apollo 11: The Inside Story charts our future journey to the end of space and time and considers whether something of humanity could remain at the end of it all.