Five Billion Years of Solitude - The Search for Life Among the Stars

A definitive guide toastronomys hottest field.The EconomistSince its formation nearly five billion yearsago, our planet has been the sole living worldin a vast and silent universe. But over the pasttwo decades, astronomers have discoveredthousands of exoplanets, including some thatcould be similar to our own world, and thepace of discovery is accelerating.In a fascinating account of this unfoldingrevolution, Lee Billings draws on interviewswith the worlds top experts in the search forlife beyond earth. He reveals how the searchfor exoplanets is not only a scientific challenge,but also a reflection of our cultures timelesshopes, dreams, and fears.