The Science of Aliens
The Real Science Behind the Gods and Monsters from Space and Time
Published on 5. July 2022
264 pages
978-1-5107-6711-9 (ISBN)
Description
Discover the real science behind 2001, ET, Signs, and all your favorite fictional alien civilizations.
As space telescopes continue to search for life in this unearthly Universe, the crucial questions remain unanswered. Are we awake to the revolutionary effects on human society and science that alien contact will bring? And how is it possible to imagine the unknown? The Science of Aliens tells the compelling story of how the portrayal of alien life has evolved over time.
Taking examples from science, film, and fiction, this book showcases how scholars, filmmakers, and authors have devoted their energies to imagining life beyond this Earth. From Copernicus to Kubrick, The Science of Aliens is a fascinating account for anyone interested in extraterrestrials.
Otherworldly topics include:
- What Xenomorphs from Alien and Na'vi from Avatar have in common
- Darwin among aliens
- Extraterrestrials in Einstein's sky
- Aliens in our space age
- And so much more
More details
Person
Mark Brake developed the world's first science and science fiction degree in 1999. He also launched the world's first astrobiology degree in 2005. He's communicated science through film, television, print, and radio on five continents, including for NASA, Seattle's Science Fiction Museum, the BBC, the Royal Institution, and Sky Movies. He was one of the founding members of NASA's Astrobiology Institute Science Communication Group. He has written more than a dozen books, including Alien Life Imagined for Cambridge University Press in 2012. Mark also tours Europe with Science of Doctor Who, Science of Star Wars, and Science of Superheroes road shows.
Content
- Front Cover
- Half-Title Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Introduction
- PART I ALIENS IN HISTORY
- Aliens in Ancient Greece
- World Turned Upside Down
- The System of The World
- Darwin Among The Aliens
- Einstein's Sky
- Aliens in The Space Age
- PART II IT'S LIFE, JIM, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT
- What Do Xenomorphs from Alien and Na'vi from Avatar Have in Common?
- Lost in Space: Are Silicon Spiders a Thing?
- Why Do the Heptapods in Arrival Look Like Octopuses?
- Dune and Pandora: When Does the Ecology of an Alien World Become a Character?
- Is Jar Jar Binks to Blame for So Few Aquatic Aliens?
- Would Luke Skywalker Really Have Been Human?
- What Do Aliens in DC's Superman and Marvel's Avengers Have in Common?
- Why Might Our Galaxy Be Full of Ewoks?
- PART III ALIEN WORLDS
- Aliens on Our Moon: What Was America's Great Moon Hoax
- Spaceballs: How Do Aliens Avoid Life's Big Obstacles
- How Does Alien Migration Happen in Star Wars and Star Trek?
- How Would the Engineers in Prometheus Know Which Star Systems to Colonize?
- Forbidden Planet: How Weird Are Alien Worlds?
- Cloud City: Is There Life on Gas Giants?
- The Wandering Earth: Are There Rogue Alien Worlds?
- PART IV ALIEN INVASION
- Are the Ancient Aliens in Assassin's Creed Possible?
- Foundation and Mandalorian: How Might Alien Empires Grow?
- Groot, Spock, or Bug: What Might Aliens Look Like?
- Time Lords, Vulcans, and Kryptonians: Are Clever Aliens Violent?
- Close Encounters: Was 'Oumuamua an Alien Contact Event?
- Cloverfield and Contact: What Is the Most Likely Form of Alien Contact?
- John Was Trying to Contact Aliens: Are We Alone?
- Index
