Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth
Adam Frank WW Norton £20 HB
On 1 November 1961, at the Green Bank conference flanked by the great Enrico Fermi and Carl Sagan, Frank Drake presented an equation that would shape an entire field. With seven variables including the fraction of planets on which life actually appears, Drake’s equation broke down the age-old question, “Are we alone in the Universe?” into smaller, researchable pieces. Light of the Stars, however, is so much more than a discussion of one equation.
Adam Frank approaches the topic of exo-civilisations from a very different point of view, with an emphasis on climate change and how we are creating a lasting impact on the planet we call home, author Say farewell to the idea of aliens with oversized heads and hello to Darwinian evolution and astrobiology.
The book relives the crucial moments from the last century that paved the way for astrobiology becoming more science than fiction. This includes the Byurakan meeting of Soviet and US scientists which, during the Cold War, transcended international politics as the two sides united over a discussion of our place in the Universe. It is here we meet the Kardashev scale for measuring the progress of a civilisation based on the energy it has at its disposal.
From observations of the greenhouse effect on Venus to the dry riverbeds on Mars, we can apply insights gained from our own Solar System to make predictions about the likelihood of life elsewhere. Understandably, probabilities and estimates are not enough for everyone, but Frank takes the time to carefully dissect the pessimistic opinions of prominent researchers from the past in light of his own research. With an easy-tofollow writing style, Frank has thoughtfully tackled the concept of life beyond Earth, without resorting to fantasies of ‘little green men’. Light of the Stars is a concise and insightful read, which, aside from being very difficult to put down, will leave you wanting to learn more about the potential for life amongst the stars. So sit down and get comfortable, as you may be glued to this book for some time.
AMBER HORNSBY is a postgraduate researcher at Cardiff University and a writer for @astrobites