New advanced astrobiology textbook provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date coverage currently available.

Astrobiology combines the sciences of biology, chemistry, palaeontology, geology, planetary physics and astronomy, in the study of the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe. This textbook brings together world experts in each of these disciplines to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of the field currently available. Topics cover the origin and evolution of life on Earth, the geological, physical and chemical conditions in which life might arise and the detection of extraterrestrial life on other planets and moons. Written to be accessible to students from diverse backgrounds, this text will be welcomed by advanced undergraduates and graduates who are taking astrobiology courses.

Foreword
Preface
Contributors
Prologue
Part I. History: 1. History of astrobiological ideas W.T. Sullivan &
D. Carney
2. From exobiology to astrobiology S.J. Dick
Part II. The Physical Stage: 3. Formation of Earth-like habitable planets D.E. Brownlee &
M. Kress
4. Planetary atmospheres and life D. Catling &
J.F. Kasting
Part III. The Origin of Life on Earth: 5. Does 'life' have a definition? C.E. Cleland &
C.F. Chyba
6. Origin of life: crucial issues R. Shapiro
7. Origin of proteins and nucleic acids A. Ricardo &
S.A. Benner
8. The roots of metabolism G.D. Cody &
J.H. Scott
9. Origin of cellular life D.W. Deamer
Part IV. Life on Earth: 10. Evolution: A defining feature of life J.A. Baross
11. Evolution of metabolism and early microbial communities J.A. Leigh, D.A. Stahl &
J.T. Staley
12. The earliest records of life on Earth R. Buick
13. The origin and diversification of eukaryotes M.L. Sogin, D.J. Patterson &
A. McArthur
14. Limits of carbon life on Earth and elsewhere J.A. Baross, J. Huber &
M. Schrenk
15. Life in ice J.W. Deming &
H. Eicken
16. The evolution and diversification of life S. Awramik &
K.J. McNamara
17. Mass extinctions P.D. Ward
Part V. Potentially Habitable Worlds: 18. Mars B.M. Jakosky, F. Westall &
A. Brack
19. Europa C.F. Chyba &
C.B. Phillips
20. Titan J.I. Lunine &
B. Rizk
21. Extrasolar planets P. Butler
Part VI. Searching for Extraterrestrial Life: 22. How to search for life on other worlds C.P. McKay
23. Instruments and strategies for detecting extraterrestrial life P.G. Conrad
24. Societial and ethical concerns M.S. Race
25. Planetary protection J.D.Rummel
26. Searching for extraterrestrial intelligence J.C. Tarter
27. Alien biochemistries P.D. Ward &
S.A. Benner
Part VII. Future of the Field: 28. Disciplinary and educational opportunities L. Wells, J. Armstrong &
J. Huber
Epilogue C.F. Chyba
Appendixes: A. Units and usages
B. Planetary properties
C. The geological time scale
D. Astrobiological destinations on planet Earth
E. Micro*scope web tool
Index.