Genta G. Lonely Minds in the Universe

New York: Praxis Publishing. – 2007. – 308 p. Astronomy during the last century enormously widened the limits of the observed Universe, surrounding an absolutely insignificant, tiny Earth. Billions of stars, nebulae, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies populate the empty space into billions of light-years outward. But there is as yet no proof that life as we know it exists anywhere else in this enormous, diversified Universe. On the other hand, life on Earth exists everywhere from the depths of the crust up to the stratosphere. Recent discoveries have demonstrated that the hidden microbial part of life might represent the predominant majority of the biomass. Our Earth, our Solar System, and our Galaxy are simple components of the Universe, and there is no evidence that they are exceptional objects in any respect. This is certainly a very serious assertion, probably one of the most important scientific problems of the twenty-first century. Lonely Minds in the Universe is a fascinating analysis of this controversial situation with all its important social, philosophical, and even theological implications. In spite of the technical background of its author, the book is an enjoyable read for every thoughful person who is interested in the past, present, and future destiny of humanity. It raises important questions, but many answers are simply not yet available. The author is convinced that the scientific search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence in the Universe deserves every effort because the result will deeply influence our future. I recommend you read this book with an open mind, which will enrich you with new ideas.The Historical and Philosophical Perspectives
The Religious Perspective
The Astrobiological Perspective
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Interlude: The Search for Extraterrestrial Stupidity
The Possibility of Contact
Epilogue
Extrasolar Planets (December 23, 2005)
Survey of Research Projects Active as Of December 2005 or Recently Ended
Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following
Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence