The solar system has always been a messy place in which gravity
wreaks havoc. Moons form, asteroids and comets crash into planets,
ice ages commence, and dinosaurs disappear. By describing the
dramatic consequences of such disturbances, this authoritative and
entertaining book reveals the fundamental interconnectedness of the
solar system--and what it means for life on Earth.
After relating a brief history of the solar system, Alan Rubin
describes how astronomers determined our location in the Milky Way.
He provides succinct and up-to-date accounts of the energetic
interactions among planetary bodies, the generation of the Earth's
magnetic field, the effects of other solar-system objects on our
climate, the moon's genesis, the heating of asteroids, and the
origin of the mysterious tektites. Along the way, Rubin introduces
us to the individual scientists--including the famous, the now
obscure, and the newest generation of researchers--who have
enhanced our understanding of the galactic neighborhood. He shows
how scientific discoveries are made; he discusses the uncertainty
that presides over the boundaries of knowledge as well as the
occasional reluctance of scientists to change their minds even when
confronted by compelling evidence. This fresh historical
perspective reveals science as it is: an imperfect but
self-correcting enterprise.
Journeying to the frontiers of knowledge, Rubin concludes with
the exciting realm of astrobiology. He chronicles the history of
the search for life on Mars and describes cutting-edge lines of
astrobiological inquiry, including panspermia (the possible
transfer of life from planet to planet), the likelihood of
technologically advanced alien civilizations in our galaxy, and our
probable responses to alien contact.
Authoritative and up-to-date but also entertaining and fluidly
written, "Disturbing the Solar System" will appeal to any reader
who has ever picked up a rock or gazed at the moon with a sense of
wonder.
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