Astrobiology : From the Origins of Life to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

"This book provides concise and cutting-edge reviews in astrobiology, a young and still emerging multidisciplinary field of science that addresses the fundamental questions of how life originated and diversified on Earth, whether life exists beyond Earth, and what is the future for life on Earth. Readers will find coverage of the latest understanding of a wide range of fascinating topics, including, for example, solar system formation, the origins of life, the history of Earth as revealed by geology, the evolution of intelligence on Earth, the implications of genome data, insights from extremophile research, and the possible existence of life on other planets within and beyond the solar system. Each chapter contains a brief summary of the current status of the topic under discussion, sufficient references to enable more detailed study, and descriptions of recent findings and forthcoming missions or anticipated research. Written by leading experts in astronomy, planetary science, geoscience, chemistry, biology, and physics, this insightful and thought-provoking book will appeal to all students and scientists who are interested in life and space." -- prové de l'editor Front Matter ....Pages i-ix Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 What Is Astrobiology? (Akihiko Yamagishi)....Pages 3-7 Front Matter ....Pages 9-9 Prebiotic Complex Organic Molecules in Space (Masatoshi Ohishi)....Pages 11-21 Chemical Interactions Among Organics, Water, and Minerals in the Early Solar System (Hikaru Yabuta)....Pages 23-42 Prebiotic Synthesis of Bioorganic Compounds by Simulation Experiments (Kensei Kobayashi)....Pages 43-61 RNA Synthesis Before the Origin of Life (Yoshihiro Furukawa)....Pages 63-74 Front Matter ....Pages 75-75 RNA World (Shotaro Ayukawa, Toshihiko Enomoto, Daisuke Kiga)....Pages 77-90 The Common Ancestor of All Modern Life (Satoshi Akanuma)....Pages 91-103 Eukaryotes Appearing (Shin-ichi Yokobori, Ryutaro Furukawa)....Pages 105-121 Color of Photosynthetic Systems: Importance of Atmospheric Spectral Segregation Between Direct and Diffuse Radiation (Atsushi Kume)....Pages 123-135 Evolution of Photosynthetic System (Satoshi Hanada)....Pages 137-152 Cosmolinguistics: Necessary Components for the Emergence of a Language-Like Communication System in a Habitable Planet (Kazuo Okanoya)....Pages 153-166 Evolution of Intelligence on the Earth (Mariko Hiraiwa-Hasegawa)....Pages 167-176 Front Matter ....Pages 177-177 Formation of Planetary Systems (Shigeru Ida)....Pages 179-196 Evolution of Early Atmosphere (Hidenori Genda)....Pages 197-207 Biogenic and Abiogenic Graphite in Minerals and Rocks of the Early Earth (Takeshi Kakegawa)....Pages 209-227 Cellular Microfossils and Possible Microfossils in the Paleo- and Mesoarchean (Kenichiro Sugitani)....Pages 229-259 Great Oxidation Event and Snowball Earth (Eiichi Tajika, Mariko Harada)....Pages 261-271 End-Paleozoic Mass Extinction: Hierarchy of Causes and a New Cosmoclimatological Perspective for the Largest Crisis (Yukio Isozaki)....Pages 273-301 Mass Extinction at the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) Boundary (Teruyuki Maruoka)....Pages 303-320 Front Matter ....Pages 321-321 Limits of Terrestrial Life and Biosphere (Ken Takai)....Pages 323-344 What Geology and Mineralogy Tell Us About Water on Mars (Tomohiro Usui)....Pages 345-352 Atmosphere of Mars (Hiromu Nakagawa)....Pages 353-366 The Search for Life on Mars (Yoshitaka Yoshimura)....Pages 367-381 Active Surface and Interior of Europa as a Potential Deep Habitat (Jun Kimura)....Pages 383-397 Enceladus: Evidence and Unsolved Questions for an Ice-Covered Habitable World (Yasuhito Sekine, Takazo Shibuya, Shunichi Kamata)....Pages 399-407 Astrobiology on Titan: Geophysics to Organic Chemistry (Hiroshi Imanaka)....Pages 409-418 Panspermia Hypothesis: History of a Hypothesis and a Review of the Past, Present, and Future Planned Missions to Test This Hypothesis (Yuko Kawaguchi)....Pages 419-428 Extrasolar Planetary Systems (Motohide Tamura)....Pages 429-440 How to Search for Possible Bio-signatures on Earth-Like Planets: Beyond a Pale Blue Dot (Yasushi Suto)....Pages 441-450 SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) (Hisashi Hirabayashi)....Pages 451-459 Possible Cultural Impact of Extraterrestrial Life, if It Were to Be Found (Junichi Watanabe)....Pages 461-465