
If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
Seventy-Five Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life
Stephen Webb(Author)
Springer (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 29. May 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
XV, 434 pages
978-3-319-13235-8 (ISBN)
Description
Given the fact that there are perhaps 400 billion stars in our Galaxy alone, and perhaps 400 billion galaxies in the Universe, it stands to reason that somewhere out there, in the 14-billion-year-old cosmos, there is or once was a civilization at least as advanced as our own. The sheer enormity of the numbers almost demands that we accept the truth of this hypothesis. Why, then, have we encountered no evidence, no messages, no artifacts of these extraterrestrials? In this second, significantly revised and expanded edition of his widely popular book, Webb discusses in detail the (for now!) 75 most cogent and intriguing solutions to Fermi's famous paradox: If the numbers strongly point to the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, why have we found no evidence of them?Reviews from the first edition:"Amidst the plethora of books that treat the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, this one by Webb . is outstanding. . Each solution is presented in a very logical, interesting, thorough manner with accompanying explanations and notes that the intelligent layperson can understand. Webb digs into the issues . by considering a very broad set of in-depth solutions that he addresses through an interesting and challenging mode of presentation that stretches the mind. . An excellent book for anyone who has ever asked 'Are we alone?'." (W. E. Howard III, Choice, March, 2003)"Fifty ideas are presented . that reveal a clearly reasoned examination of what is known as 'The Fermi Paradox'. . For anyone who enjoys a good detective story, or using their thinking faculties and stretching the imagination to the limits . 'Where is everybody' will be enormously informative and entertaining. . Read this book, and whatever your views are about life elsewhere in the Universe, your appreciation for how special life is here on Earth will be enhanced! A worthy addition to any personal library." (Philip Bridle, BBC Radio, March, 2003)Since gaining a BSc in physics from the University of Bristol and a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Manchester, Stephen Webb has worked in a variety of universities in the UK. He is a regular contributor to the Yearbook of Astronomy series and has published an undergraduate textbook on distance determination in astronomy and cosmology as well as several popular science books. His interest in the Fermi paradox combines lifelong interests in both science and science fiction.
Reviews / Votes
Selected by Choice magazine as an "Outstanding Academic Title" for 2015"There are 397 notes and 21 pages of references. The
arguments are engaging, clearly reasoned, and accessible to general readers. ...
This is one of the best books ever written on the subject of extraterrestrial
intelligence. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels." (T.
Barker, Choice, Vol. 53 (3), November, 2015)
Selected by Choice magazine as an "Outstanding Academic Title" for 2015
"There are 397 notes and 21 pages of references. The
arguments are engaging, clearly reasoned, and accessible to general readers. ...
This is one of the best books ever written on the subject of extraterrestrial
intelligence. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels." (T.
Barker, Choice, Vol. 53 (3), November, 2015)
More details
Product info
Book
Series
Edition
2nd ed. 2015
Language
English
Place of publication
Cham
Switzerland
Publishing group
Springer International Publishing
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Popular/general
Edition type
Revised edition
Illustrations
52 s/w Abbildungen, 18 farbige Abbildungen
XV, 434 p. 70 illus., 18 illus. in color.
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
680 gr
ISBN-13
978-3-319-13235-8 (9783319132358)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-319-13236-5
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Stephen Webb
If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
Seventy-Five Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life
E-Book
05/2015
2nd Edition
Springer
€32.09
Available for download
Previous edition

Stephen Webb
If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life
Book
10/2002
Springer
€37.44
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Physicist Stephen Webb is best known as author of popular science books: he has published 'Measuring the Universe - The Cosmological Distance Ladder' in 1999, the first edition of 'If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens ... WHERE IS EVERYBODY? Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life' in 2002, 'Out of this World - Colliding Universes, Branes, Strings, and Other Wild Ideas of Modern Physics' in 2004 and 'New Eyes on the Universe - Twelve Cosmic Mysteries and the Tools We Need to Solve Them' in 2012.
Content
Foreword.- Preface to the Second Edition.- Preface to the Third Edition.- Where is Everybody?.- Of Fermi and Paradox.- They are (or were) Here.- They Exist, But we Have Yet to See or Hear From Them.- They Don`t Exist.- Conclusion.- Notes.- References.- Index.