Pearson - Life in the Universe, 2/E - Jeffrey O. Bennett & Seth Shostak

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Life in the Universe, 2/E
Jeffrey O. Bennett, University of Colorado, Boulder
Seth Shostak, SETI Institute Senior Astronomer

ISBN-10: 0805347534
ISBN-13: 9780805347531

Publisher: Addison-Wesley
Copyright: 2007
Format: Paper; 560 pp
Published: 10/16/2006

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Description

Life in the Universe takes non-science majors on a journey through the solar system and beyond, using a rigorous yet accessible introduction to astronomy, biology, chemistry, and geology to explain natural phenomena and explore unanswered scientific questions. The Second Edition has been thoroughly revised to include updated scientific discoveries, optional quantitative coverage, an enhanced illustration program, and expanded coverage of the solar system and stellar material.

Designed for the emerging astrobiology course, but also suitable for introductory astronomy, Life in the Universe captures the imagination of students by exploring fundamental pan-scientific questions: How did life begin on Earth? What are the most extreme forms of life currently known? What are the challenges of trying to colonize another planet?

The text motivates non-science majors to develop basic reasoning skills and an understanding of the process of science through skillful writing and a wealth of pedagogical features, such as Learning Goals that keep students focused on key concepts. Sidebars provide optional mathematical material for courses that fulfill quantitative requirements.

An expanded media package includes an Instructor Resource CD-ROM (with all the figures and photos from the book) and an updated companion website (including new quizzes, tutorials, and interactive figures and photos). This media is integrated with the text through the use of icons that point to interactive photos and figures.

Features

Balanced, interdisciplinary coverage that engages and motivates non-science students to explore the nature of science itself.
Think About It questions, strategically placed within the text, encourage students to stop and digest what they have just read and can be used as topics for classroom debate.
Special Topics boxes provide more in-depth material that can be assigned according to the emphasis of your course.
Movie Madness boxes relate content to popular movies and provide examples of correct and incorrect science.
The Big Picture box closes each chapter with a list of ideas to contemplate, setting the context for the following chapter.

New To This Edition

Learning Goals are presented as key questions at the start of each chapter to help students focus on the most important concepts, including material that highlights the process of science. The Learning Goals are also featured as subheads throughout the text. Visual Chapter Summaries include answers to the Learning Goal questions as well as illustrations and figures from the text to summarize and unite the most important topics.
The Process of Science in Action is a new feature appearing at the end of each chapter. These sections examine topics in greater depth as examples of how the process of science works, so that students get a deeper understanding of the differences between science and nonscience.
Cosmic Calculations are optionalmathboxes that present students with simple equations and teach basic quantitative analysis. Simple equations have also been selectively added to the text narrative in places where their presence aids student comprehension.
Key Definition boxes provide a glossary of terms as they are introduced.
Refresher boxes provide concise reviews of basic background science.
Expanded End-of-Chapter material includes new Quantitative Questions and Quick Quizzes.
Updated scientific coverage includes the most recent discoveries in the field.
Expanded discussion of the formation of the solar system and stellar material.
Enhanced illustration program includes annotated key figures to guide students in their interpretation of difficult concepts.
Media icons throughout the book point to Interactive Figures and Photos on the student web site and instructor CD-ROM that supports the text.

Table of Contents

I. Introducing Life in the Universe

1. A Universe of Life?

2. The Science of Life in the Universe

3. The Universal Context of Life

II. Life on Earth

3. The Habitability of Earth

4. The Nature of Life on Earth

5. The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

III. Life in the Solar System

6. Searching for Life in Our Solar System

7. Mars

8. Life on Jovian Moons

9. The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

IV. Life Among the Stars

10. Habitability Outside the Solar System

11. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

12. Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Epilogue: Contact — Implications of the Search and Discovery

Courses

Astronomy (Physics & Astronomy)
Life in the Universe (Physics & Astronomy)

Next Edition(s)

Life in the Universe, 3/E
Bennett & Shostak
©2012 | Addison-Wesley | Paper; 544 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321687671 | ISBN-13: 9780321687678
Net price: $100.95 (What's this?)Brief Description |
Life in the Universe takes non-science majors on a journey through the solar system and beyond, using a rigorous yet accessible introduction to astronomy, biology, and geology to explain natural phenomena and to explore profound scientific questions about astrobiology. The Third Edition has been thoroughly revised to include updated scientific discoveries, new Cosmic Context two-page spreads, and an updated Premium Website.

Designed for astrobiology courses but also suitable for introductory astronomy, Life in the Universe captures the imagination of students by exploring fundamental pan-scientific questions: How did life begin on Earth? What are the most extreme forms of life currently known? Is it reasonable to imagine life beyond Earth?

The text motivates non-science majors to develop basic reasoning skills and an understanding of the process of science through skillful writing and a wealth of pedagogical features, such as Learning Goals that keep students focused on key concepts. Sidebars provide optional mathematical material for courses that fulfill quantitative requirements.
More Info

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Author Interview

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Websites and Online Courses

Websites and Online Courses

Companion Website for Life in the Universe, 2/E
Bennett & Shostak
©2007 | Addison-Wesley | Website | Live
ISBN-10: 0805306439 | ISBN-13: 9780805306439
More Info

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In this section:

Instructor Resources

Downloadable Instructor Resources
Other Instructor Resources

Student Resources

Websites and online courses
Other student resources

eLearning & Assessment

Websites and Online Courses

Course & Discipline Resources

For Astronomy
For Life in the Universe
For the Physics & Astronomy Discipline

Companion Website for Life in the Universe, 2/E
Bennett & Shostak
©2007 | Addison-Wesley | Website | Live
ISBN-10: 0805306439 | ISBN-13: 9780805306439
More Info

Websites and online courses

Companion Website for Life in the Universe, 2/E
Bennett & Shostak
©2007 | Addison-Wesley | Website | Live
ISBN-10: 0805306439 | ISBN-13: 9780805306439
More Info

Other student resources

Activities Manual for Life in the Universe, 2/E
Prather, Offerdahl & Slater
©2007 | Addison-Wesley | Paper; 180 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0805317120 | ISBN-13: 9780805317121
Net price: $35.20 (What's this?)More Info

For Astronomy

Clickers in the Astronomy Classroom
Duncan
©2007 | Addison-Wesley | Paper; 96 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0805396160 | ISBN-13: 9780805396164
Suggested retail price: $11.60Net price: $11.60 (What's this?)More Info

Clickers in the Classroom: How to Enhance Science Teaching Using Classroom Response Systems
Duncan
©2005 | Addison-Wesley | Paper; 96 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0805387285 | ISBN-13: 9780805387285
Suggested retail price: $21.73Net price: $16.30 (What's this?)More Info

Cosmos DVD Boxed Set
Sagan
©2000 | Addison-Wesley | CD-ROM Only | Instock
ISBN-10: 080538572X | ISBN-13: 9780805385724
Suggested retail price: $0.00Net price: $0.00 (What's this?)More Info

Edmund Scientific Star and Planet Locator
Edmund Scientific
©2007 | Addison-Wesley | Paper; 1 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 0131402358 | ISBN-13: 9780131402355
Suggested retail price: $22.53Net price: $16.90 (What's this?)More Info

MasteringAstronomy™ Student Access Kit for Bennett, Donahue, Schneider & Voit
Bennett, Donahue, Schneider & Voit
©2008 | Addison-Wesley | Access Code Card | Instock
ISBN-10: 0321582195 | ISBN-13: 9780321582195
Suggested retail price: $57.20Net price: $42.90 (What's this?)More Info

Sky and Telescope, Special Student Supplement
Skillman
©2011 | Addison-Wesley | Paper; 80 pp | Instock
ISBN-10: 032170620X | ISBN-13: 9780321706201
Suggested retail price: $0.00Net price: $0.00 (What's this?)More Info

For Life in the Universe

Cosmos DVD Boxed Set
Sagan
©2000 | Addison-Wesley | CD-ROM Only | Instock
ISBN-10: 080538572X | ISBN-13: 9780805385724
Suggested retail price: $0.00Net price: $0.00 (What's this?)More Info

For the Physics & Astronomy Discipline

Astronomy Media Workbook (Download only with SkyGazer 5.0), 7/E
LoPresto
©2012 | Addison-Wesley | On-line Supplement | Live
ISBN-10: 0321741242 | ISBN-13: 9780321741240

Show Downloadable Files

More Info

Websites and Online Courses

Companion Website for Life in the Universe, 2/E
Bennett & Shostak
©2007 | Addison-Wesley | Website | Live
ISBN-10: 0805306439 | ISBN-13: 9780805306439
More Info

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Life in the Universe, 2/E