The Life and Death of Planet Earth: How the New Science of Astrobiology Charts the Ultimate Fate of Our World.

PETER WARD AND DONALD BROWNLEE

Nothing lasts forever. One day, Earth will be annihilated as our sun goes through its own death throes. Scientists are drawing heavily on a new field of study called astrobiology--a synthesis of biology, astronomy, and paleontology--to glean information from our past and from the life and times of other planets in order to establish what the future might hold. Geologist Ward and astronomer Brownlee are at the fore of this exciting new field and join forces here to illuminate likely scenarios for the end of Earth. They accord that Earth's biodiversity peaked 250 million years ago and that we are living today in the second half of our planet's lifespan. After analyzing how Earth evolved to this point, the authors speculate that we will return to a hot world where life is less diverse, less complicated, and less abundant than now. They believe a supercontinent will once again coalesce before plant and animal life ends and the oceans disappear. In the process of making their grim, yet fascinating case, they present a vast amount of data and a solid introduction to a stirring new field. Times, 2002, 240 p., b&w photos/illus., hardcover, $25.00.