LIFE AS WE DO NOT KNOW IT

THE NASA SEARCH FOR (and SYNTHESIS OF) ALIEN LIFE

by Peter Ward

Peter Ward is a distinguished professor, scientist, and author whose earlier book Rare Earth, with its dim view of the possibilities of complex life beyond our planet, created a rift in the science community so controversial he was featured on the front page of The New York Times. With Life as We Do Not Know It, Ward again challenges our notions of extraterrestrial life with a significantly revised look at life in the universe and a novel hypothesis about the origins of life on Earth.

Ward's Rare Earth (coauthored with Donald Brownlee) suggested the unlikelihood of our finding an alien race as complex and evolved as humankind; if such beings exist, they're too far away for us to make contact with. But what about more basic forms of life right here in our solar system?

Ward, an investigator with NASA's Astrobiology Institute, believes researchers might be taking the wrong approach by looking only for earthly DNA-based life forms. Truly alien life, he argues, might have completely different origins; even Earth has untold numbers of viruses composed entirely of RNA, and scientists have created similar genetic material in laboratories, so who's to say silicon-based life-forms are impossible?

After introducing readers to the building blocks of life and the new ways they might be arranged, Ward speculates on what types of microbes we might find on other planets and their satellites. He recommends that future manned space expeditions include paleontologists and biochemists to follow up on suggestive evidence collected by space probes.

The science is neatly laid out, and readers willing to follow his daring, scientifically based speculations will find their imaginations spurred. Authoritative and eye opening, Life as We Do Not Know It is sure to provoke wonder and heated debate among both professional researchers and lay readers alike.

First printing, the hardcover book, as this is, is now out of print. A physical description follows...

This is part of my summer clearance sale of overstocked and one of a kind items that have been in my inventory for too long, so I'm blowing them out until current inventories are depleted! If you buy 5 or more, I'll ship them via media mail within the USA, free of postage. All you need to do is pay for the mandatory insurance of $1.75. TO GET THE FREE SHIPPING, YOU MUST WAIT for me to invoice you BEFORE you pay. If you jump the gun, I can't go back and fix it retroactively! To see all of the items in this sale, CLICK HERE!

For any of the other hundreds of items I have available use the link at the bottom of the page. And if you have any requests, by all means, send me an email; if I have it, I'll list it right away for you (no off eBay sales...)

Regarding Auctions & the Item...

I am a private collector of art, books, music and "stuff" and am very picky about what I buy. I don't like surprises when I buy things from auctions any more than you do. I promise everything there is to know about this item is in this description. I also do not subscribe to "grading" as frankly, grading is totally inconsistent and most of the "graders" TRULY have no clue, so I will use plain English if it is OK with you...

*A brand new hardcover book with priced and unclipped dust jacket in near perfect condition. The book shows only the slightest hint of shelfwear from handling, but one look at it will tell you it has never even been opened! Enjoy...

I have sold many, many books and music items on eBay and have only received one complaint in thousands of auctions about the accuracy in my descriptions.

As an eBay Powerseller, I have met eBay standards for excellence in trading so you may bid with confidence knowing you will get what you THINK you are bidding on!

Please check my feedback. It is a record I am very proud of...

I have LOTS of music items, and tons of books available for purchase. Please check my other offerings to see if there is anything else you might be interested in for combined shipping. There are links above and below and why not bookmark my site to make it easier to find at a later date.

---

---

PAYMENT TERMS: Pretty simple. Pay me, I send it!

IMPORTANT MONEY SAVING TIP! If you are bidding on more than one of my items and would like me to COMBINE SHIPPING costs, I will be happy to do so, BUT, YOU MUST WAIT until everything you are bidding on finishes BEFORE you complete checkout. Once you complete checkout on an item, I cannot go back and combine it with anything else as eBay considers it a closed deal. TRUST ME, I will send you a combined invoice at the end of each item with updated and combined shipping costs and any deal discounts that may apply.

WHEN YOU ARE DONE BIDDING, winners agree to pay promptly once they receive a final invoice.

AS OF OCTOBER 2008, ONLY ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS ARE ALLOWED by eBay Policy... All of the payment info you need will follow. California deliveries will require sales tax.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

I accept Credit Cards, eChecks and electronic transfers with .

Unfortunately, direct bank transfers are not offered due to cost and security concerns.

As I reside in the USA, all payments must be made in US Dollars & Cents.

SHIPPING INFO: IMPORTANT!! I can ONLY SHIP to the address as noted in PAYPAL'S "TRANSACTION DETAILS". If you want it shipped to an alternate location, you will need to register that address BEFORE paying or it will be shipped to the registered address.

Shipping is by weight & destination. Please use the shipping calculator below for all desinations domestic and international.

PLEASE NOTE: Over the years, I have had a LOT of packages lost or delayed by the post office. Apparently their heightened security includes LOSING packages. Insurance is for loss as well as damage and as a result, I am ONLY shipping domestic packages insured! If it gets lost or damaged in freight, I will be able to replace or refund your purchase. NO INSURANCE, NO RECOURSE! Unfortunately, insurance is no longer offered by the US Post Office for international destinations.

REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT SHIPPING TIMES:

Media Mail (once known as 4th class mail) is a special class of postage for books, music, videos and other printed media available within the US and territories. It is far less expensive than Priority Mail, but - it ..... is ........... slooowwwww!!!! Despite USPS claims of 3-9 day delivery times, MEDIA MAIL CAN actually TAKE UP TO 3 WEEKS to arrive, and their tracking info is frequently not updated until it actually arrives, making that feature pretty useless! PLEASE remember this when you leave feedback scores as the choice is yours and not my fault if it takes a long time to get there! If you want it in a week or less, you are going to have to bite the bullet and pay for Priority Mail which will get it there in 2-3 working days, 99% of the time, but it is more expensive. Basically, the choice is yours, but if you choose media mail, please don't write to me in 5 days asking where your package is, because the post office will have it and most of the time, they don't have a clue! International deliveries all go by Priority Mail and usually arrive within 1-2 weeks.

Questions? Ask and I'll try to answer...

Please check out the other "lovely" items I have just waiting for your bids by

CLICKING HERE!

---

Thanks so much for looking and bidding on my auctions~ Alan.

---

I am registered on eBay as a Trading Assistant which means some people contract me to sell their items for them (these auctions are specified in the description when this applies). ALL ITEMS ARE INSPECTED for authenticity and condition before I list them.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL AND NEED HELP, CONTACT ME and perhaps I can help you too!