Book Description

Are we alone or are there other intelligent forms of life in the Universe? Sir Arnold Wolfendale explores the ways in which Scientists' thinking on this question has evolved, including an hypothesis to estimate how probable intelligent extraterrestrial life might be, and a discussion of theMartian meterorites that were the subject of recent speculation about life on Mars. Meteorites in general, where they come from and what we can learn from them, are discussed by Monica Grady, a researcher in interstellar components in meteorites and micrometeorites. Together with other essaysby experts in their fields, this volume of selected Evening Discourses from the Royal Institution offers an authoritative and accessible summary of current thinking in many areas of science and technology. The subjects are wide-ranging, from studies of Venus and what they tell us about the Earth,the history and possible future of television, to the interface between art and science - using spectroscopy to analyse the pigments in Medieval manuscripts. Will we will be able to build machines with molecular-based memories? How do you deal with an historic tower 'founded on jelly and slowlyinclining to the point at which it is about to fall over'? The answers to these and other questions are to be found within.