THERE has been a recent flood of books about astrobiology – the study of life in the universe – but this latest effort by astronomer Chris Impey is one of the best. It provides a solid overview of the diverse research involved and, although it digresses in places, is beautifully written. Extremophile organisms are described as caped superheroes, each with their own unique powers to enable survival in the harshest environments on Earth, while discovering planets as they eclipse their host star is likened to standing in a football stadium trying to spot the one crowd member about to moon.
The Living…
