Biosphere Origin and Evolution

Biosphere Origin and EvolutionSpringer ISBN:038768655X Edition - 2007-12-18 PDF 448 pages 4.55 MB

Modern natural science shows that the infancy of life on Earth experienced prebiotic evolution and included the emergence of primitive self-reproducing biologic forms and their systems. The subsequent coevolution of inorganic environment and biologic systems resulted in global propagation of life over the Earth and its enormous diversification. Diverse living organisms colonized the land, water, and atmosphere, as well as upper layers of the lithosphere, thereby forming the biosphere.The book covers notions by scientists of various branches on the evolutionary relationship between the biosphere and geosphere, evolution features at various levels of living matter organization, and problems of prebiotic evolution and life origin. The data were collected in the course of the RAS program Biosphere origin and evolution (subprogram II) in 2003 2006. The objectives of this subprogram were (1) generalization of data related to problems of biosphere origin and evolution accumulated by geneticists, molecular biologists, zoologists, botanists, paleontologists, microbiologists, geologists, chemists, and archaeologists; (2) search for new interdisciplinary approaches to biosphere origin and evolution; (3) development of a lingua franca understandable by experts in various fields, which would allow apprehension of results concerning the topic obtained in allied sciences.

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The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe

Stephen W Hawking, "The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe"Phoenix Books ISBN: 1597775088 Special Anniversary edition (May 1, 2006) PDF 136 pages 1.2 MB
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With a title inspired as much by Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker series as Einstein, The Theory of Everything delivers almost as much as it promises. Transcribed from Stephen Hawking's Cambridge Lectures, the slim volume may not present a single theory unifying gravity with the other fundamental forces, but it does carefully explain the state of late 20th-century physics with the great scientist's characteristic humility and charm. Explicitly shunning math, Hawking explains the fruits of 100 years of heavy thinking with metaphors that are simple but never condescending--he compares the settling of the newborn universe into symmetry to the formation of ice crystals in a glass of water, for example. While he explores his own work (especially when speaking about black holes), he also discusses the important milestones achieved by others like Richard Feynman. Though occasionally an impenetrably obscure phrase does slip by, the reader will find the bulk of the text enlightening and engaging. The material, from the nature of time to the possibility that the universe has no beginning or end, is rich and deep and inevitably ignites metaphysical thinking. After all, Hawking is famous for his "we would know the mind of God" remark, which ends the final lecture herein.

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The Creation of the Universe (Dover Science Books)

The Creation of the Universe (Dover Science Books)Publisher: Dover Publications 2004-09-10 ISBN 0486438686 Pages: 160 DJVU 4.2 MB

This lively and authoritative survey by an internationally famous physicist offers captivating perspectives on the origins of the galaxies, stars, chemical elements, and planetary systems. Illustrated with diagrams and the author's own drawings, it explains complex concepts in a simple manner. "Fascinating." — San Francisco Chronicle. 40 figures. 1961 edition.

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The Labyrinth of Time: Introducing the Universe

Michael Lockwood, "The Labyrinth of Time: Introducing the Universe" Oxford University Press, USA (May 19, 2005) ISBN:0199249954 414 pages PDF 3,7 Mb

Modern physics has revealed the universe as a much stranger place than we could have imagined. The puzzle at the centre of our knowledge of the universe is time. Michael Lockwood takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the nature of things. He investigates philosophical questions about past, present, and future, our experience of time, and the possibility of time travel. And he provides the most careful, lively, and up-to-date introduction to the physics of time and the structure of the universe.He guides us step by step through relativity theory and quantum physics, introducing and explaining the ground-breaking ideas of Newton and Boltzmann, Einstein and Schroedinger, Penrose and Hawking. We zoom in on the behaviour of molecules and atoms, and pull back to survey the expansion of the universe. We learn about entropy and gravity, black holes and wormholes, about how it all began and where we are all headed. Lockwood's aim is not just to boggle the mind but to lead us towards an understanding of the science and philosophy. Things will never seem the same again after a voyage through The Labyrinth of Time.

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Wandering Stars: About Planets And Exo-planets, An Introductory Notebook

George H. A. Cole, "Wandering Stars: About Planets And Exo-planets, An Introductory Notebook"Imperial College Press ISBN:1860944760 February 27, 2006 PDF 504 pages 29158 KB

The space vehicle spectaculars of recent years have been revealing the full scope and beauty of our own solar system but have also shown that a growing number of other stars too have planetary bodies orbiting around them. The study of these systems is just beginning. It seems that our galaxy contains untold numbers of planets, and presumably other galaxies will be similar to our own. Our solar system contains life, on Earth: do others as well? Such questions excite modern planetary scientists and astro-biologists. This situation is a far cry from ancient times when the five planets that can be seen from Earth without a telescope were called the "wandering stars". This notebook-cum-workbook provides an introduction to those profound and still-developing modern studies. Written by an expert in the field, it is pitched at a level suitable for beginning students. It is designed particularly for self-study but can also provide background support for students attending lecture courses or teachers developing such courses. The reader is encouraged to add to the arguments of the book as the subject develops. A special feature here is a substantial glossary of terms and people which serves as a starting point for further entries. Wandering Stars is a key to unlock the door to an exciting and fascinating universe which is still the object of active discovery.

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Why is Uranus Upside Down - and Other Questions About the Universe

Why is Uranus Upside Down - and Other Questions About the UniversePublisher: Allen & Unwin October 2007 ISBN 9781741752533 Pages 240 PDF 1.5 MB

Have you ever wondered what dark matter is or why galaxies collide? Or why the Moon is gradually drifting away from Earth? Space is really, really big, as Douglas Adams once pointed out, and there is no better guide to it than Fred Watson, astronomer to the stars.Fred Watson has taken the many, many questions that have been asked by listeners of his popular, long-running radio shows, and answered them in Why Is Uranus Upside Down?* How can you identify the constellations?* Does the Earth wobble?* Could you dump nuclear waste into the Sun?* What makes planets round?* Where's the nearest black hole?* Are there other universes?* Can we ever know everything.

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