Strange new worlds : the search for alien planets and life beyond our solar system

From Publishers Weekly "He takes the reader on a four-century-long scientific quest to discover our place in the universe, beginning with the Copernican hypothesis and Galileo's discovery of four of Jupiter's planets. . . . An exciting, highly readable glimpse into a discovery that could have broad scientific and cultural implications."--PublishersWeekly.com (starred review) Review “Jayawardhana is among a posse of cosmic cowboys mapping the space frontier... His work and that of others is discussed in Strange New Worlds , a science book written in a lively way for star-struck laymen.” --Toronto Star "Everything you need to know about alien planet discovery is insightfully described in this engaging book..." - Library Journal (starred review) “With the seemingly endless stream of news about discoveries of alien planets, it's easy to forget that just 20 years ago exoplanets were no more than theoretical possibilities. Now astronomer Ray Jayawardhana tells the story of how the dramatic hunt has unfolded, from the early days of stellar astronomy to present-day speculation about life outside our solar system.” -- New Scientist “Professor Jayawardhana is an award-winning science writer and an eminent planet-hunter, and so is the perfect person to write an accessible guidebook to the new worlds we're discovering in our galaxy. He explains how many of those discovered so far are pretty exotic, bloated and massive or scorchingly close to their sun, and how we've even had our first weather report for another world. But what's most exciting is that this book explains how we now have within our grasp the ability to spot a true twin of Earth.” -- BBC Focus "Anyone scanning the shelves today to learn about such urgent news from the universe should go directly 'J' and take down Ray Jayawardhana's Strange New Worlds. It begins with early speculation by ancient thinkers but moves quickly to a series of seemingly promising discoveries, beginning 160 years ago, that raised researchers' hopes only to frustrate them. . . . [R]eading Strange New Worlds, I felt the thrill of briefly sharing in the efforts of these planet-seeking scientists and seeing the universe through their eyes."--Mike Brown, Wall Street Journal "We are in the midst of a veritable golden age of discovery... Ray Jayawardhana provides here a dramatic account of how this story has unfolded over the years - and you won't find a more able guide for the journey. He is an eminent astrophysicist and planet hunter himself, and is an award-winning science writer. This combination of the insider's expert perspective and storyteller's skill really shines through in Strange New Worlds." -- Times Higher Education "In Strange New Worlds, Ray Jayawardhana surveys how 15 years of exoplanet discovery has changed astrophysics... His lucid and effortless prose makes for an engaging read." - Chris Tinney, Nature "Are we alone in the universe? The question is no longer unanswerable. Ray Jayawardhana, an astrophysicist and writer, vividly recounts the advances behind an extraordinary age of exploration." -- The Australian Science Soon Astronomers Expect To Find Alien Earths By The Dozens In Orbit Around Distant Suns. Before The Decade Is Out, Telltale Signs That They Harbor Life May Be Found. If They Are, The Ramifications For All Areas Of Human Thought And Endeavor--from Religion And Philosophy To Art And Biology--will Be Breathtaking. In Strange New Worlds, Renowned Astronomer Ray Jayawardhana Brings News From The Front Lines Of The Epic Quest To Find Planets--and Alien Life--beyond Our Solar System. Only In The Past Fifteen Years, After Millennia Of Speculation, Have Astronomers Begun To Discover Planets Around Other Stars--hundreds In Fact. But The Hunt To Find A True Earth-like World Goes On. In This Book, Jayawardhana Vividly Recounts The Stories Of The Scientists And The Remarkable Breakthroughs That Have Ushered In This Extraordinary Age Of Exploration. He Describes The Latest Findings--including His Own--that Are Challenging Our View Of The Cosmos And Casting New Light On The Origins And Evolution Of Planets And Planetary Systems. He Reveals How Technology Is Rapidly Advancing To Support Direct Observations Of Jupiter-like Gas Giants And Super-earths--rocky Planets With Several Times The Mass Of Our Own Planet--and How Astronomers Use Biomarkers To Seek Possible Life On Other Worlds. Strange New Worlds Provides An Insider's Look At The Cutting-edge Science Of Today's Planet Hunters, Our Prospects For Discovering Alien Life, And The Debates And Controversies At The Forefront Of Extrasolar-planet Research. In Strange New Worlds, renowned astronomer Ray Jayawardhana brings news from the front lines of the epic quest to find planets--and alien life--beyond our solar system. Only in the past two decades, after millennia of speculation, have astronomers begun to discover planets around other stars--thousands in fact. Now they are closer than ever to unraveling distant twins of the Earth. In this book, Jayawardhana vividly recounts the stories of the scientists and the remarkable breakthroughs that have ushered in this extraordinary age of exploration. He describes the latest findings--including his own--that are challenging our view of the cosmos and casting new light on the origins and evolution of planets and planetary systems. He reveals how technology is rapidly advancing to support direct observations of Jupiter-like gas giants and super-Earths--rocky planets with several times the mass of our own planet--and how astronomers use biomarkers to seek possible life on other worlds. Strange New Worlds provides an insider's look at the cutting-edge science of today's planet hunters, our prospects for discovering alien life, and the debates and controversies at the forefront of extrasolar-planet research. In a new afterword, Jayawardhana explains some of the most recent developments as we search for the first clues of life on other planets