ON THE SEARCH FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE

If you're the type who dismisses the topic of extraterrestrial life as something that belongs in science fiction conventions or in conversation amongst card-carrying members of the lunatic fringe, then the book Aliens: The World's Leading Scientists on the Search for Extraterrestrial Life is really going to blow your mind.

As the title suggests, the book is a collection of essays by scientists on the prospects of our finding extraterrestrial life–and it covers a wide array of topics with an equally wide range of viewpoints on offer. For instance, there are essays about whether or not we are alone in the universe, about how life should be defined and on the prospects of finding it "out there," not to mention a chapter or two summarizing some of the great UFO conspiracy theories (think: Roswell and Area 51) that have become part of the popular imagination.

The book's editor, Jim Al-Khalili, articulates the significance of the contributions to the project thus:

"All these essays, and the work of pioneering scientists and writers that they are based on, reflect the fact that today, in the second decade of the twenty-first century, we are only just beginning our adventure, seeking answers to the most fundamental questions of existence: What is life? Are we unique? And what is our place in the universe?"

Indeed, it's a fascinating read filled with facts, scientific speculation, and a fair amount of good humor thrown in for good measure. There's a lot for readers to take away from the book, such as the description of life as evidence of the proton-motive force, or the conditions that made life possible on planet Earth and whether these also exist on other exoplanets, or even why it is more than likely that any intelligent life we encounter in the vast reaches of space is more likely to be silicon-based (rather than carbon based).

In the end, readers will come away impressed that some of the greatest minds on the planet continue to turn their attention to the question of whether or not we are alone in the universe, appreciating the question's understated importance in the first place.

BookFilter review: This wide-ranging collection of essays by top scientists has a bit of a split personality but I enjoyed them all. Some pieces are amusingly silly, like a run-down of how aliens are depicted in movies (with especial disdain for Ridley Scott's film "Prometheus") and a drolly straightforward recitation of the basics about some of the most famous claims of close encounters. Others are vaguely speculative about science but most are rooted in the latest facts and offer intelligent summaries of what we know, why it's silly (or smart) to listen for radio signals and so on. Best of all are the sharply differing opinions -- you'll read one piece that makes clear how very likely it is that life as we know it exists on other planets only to later read another equally convincing essay that asserts it's highly unlikely we'll discover life on other planets. That's science for you - no certainty other than the knowledge that facts are fascinating and we'll follow them wherever they lead. I'm not sure who the audience might be for this, but as a sci-fi reading buff who enjoys hearing the latest discoveries and layman's descriptions of cutting edge theories, I was right at home. -- Michael Giltz