Alien Earths: Planet Hunting in the Cosmos

Are we alone in the Universe? For a long time, this question remained an inexhaustible philosophical riddle, but modern science is finally ready to offer an answer.

In fact, things are far more fascinating than a simple “yes” or “no.” How can we detect signs of life across billions of light-years? And what criteria define life itself? Leading astrophysicist and director of the Carl Sagan Institute, Lisa Kaltenegger, has brought together scientists from different fields to create a unique guide to the search for inhabited worlds. She invites us to look at our own Earth as a universal key for deciphering the mysteries of the cosmos. With remarkable enthusiasm, the author opens before readers a dazzling gallery of exoplanets: from worlds with oceans of lava to lonely rogue planets and water giants beneath the glow of several suns. It is entirely possible that, at this very moment, someone living on one of those worlds is gazing into the night sky in search of us. And this book is our guide to meeting them halfway.