Editor's Summary
21 February 2008
Life class
In The Living Cosmos, Chris Impey outlines current thinking on how and where we should look for signs of extraterrestrial life. In its 50-year history the science of astrobiology — or exobiology — has made great strides, fuelled by a series of successful Solar System probes. But, as Bruce Jakosky's book review points out, the future of the field will depend on the development of new technologies. Though if a Mars sample return mission does find a slot in NASA's post-2010 plans, perhaps a new edition of The Living Cosmos will be on the cards.
Books and Arts: Quest for extraterrestrial life
doi:10.1038/451890a