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Civilized Life in the Universe : Scientists on Intelligent Extraterrestrials.

Basalla, George.

Civilized Life in the Universe : Scientists on Intelligent Extraterrestrials. - 1st ed. - 1 online resource (248 pages)

Intro -- Contents -- Introduction -- 1 Trio of Ideas -- 2 Life on the Moon -- 3 From the Moon to the Planets -- 4 The Ascension of Mars -- 5 Percival Lowell: Champion of Canals -- 6 Mars Unveiled -- 7 Carl Sagan: Mars and Beyond -- 8 Life in an Expanding Universe -- 9 The Trajectory: CETI to SETI to HRMS -- 10 Mirror Worlds -- 11 Afterword -- Sources of Quoted Material -- Bibliography -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Z.

From Plutarch and Kepler to Stephen Hawkings and Carl Sagan, this book offers a fascinating history of scientific speculation about life in outer space. Basalla traces an unbroken but twisting chain of ideas passed from one scientist to the next, and from science to popular culture. He even examines the influence of popular culture on science--Sagan always admitted how much Burroughs' Martian novels influenced his speculations about Mars. Throughout, Basalla shows that scientific belief in and search for extraterrestrial civilizations is a complex impulse, part secularized-religious, and part anthropomorphic.

9780198038351


Life on other planets -- Research.
Outer space -- Exploration -- Public opinion.


Electronic books.

QB54.B37 2006

576.8/39

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