Williamsburg Regional Library

The science of aliens, the real science behind the gods and monsters from space and time, Mark Brake

eng

illustrations

index present

non fiction

The science of aliens

1333713242

Mark Brake

the real science behind the gods and monsters from space and time

"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"--, Provided by publisher

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 from 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 aqautic 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 galazy 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 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 aliens 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?

adult