Alien Earths

The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos

By: Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger

This program features an introduction and epilogue read by the author.

"In the grand tradition of Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson, we now have a new tour guide to the cosmos."―Charles Cockell, Professor of Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh

"Absorbing, informative, and entertaining."―Kirkus (Starred Review)

“[Dr. Lisa] Kaltenegger's accessible scholarship and [Cassandra] Campbell's grounded performance encourage listeners to gaze skyward and wonder.”—AudioFile

Riveting and timely, a look at the research that is transforming our understanding of the cosmos in the quest to discover whether we are alone.

For thousands of years, humans have wondered whether we're alone in the cosmos. Now, for the first time, we have the technology to investigate. But once you look for life elsewhere, you realize it is not so simple. How do you find it over cosmic distances? What actually is life?

As founding director of Cornell University's Carl Sagan Institute, astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger has built a team of tenacious scientists from many disciplines to create a specialized toolkit to find life on faraway worlds. In Alien Earths, she demonstrates how we can use our homeworld as a Rosetta Stone, creatively analyzing Earth's history and its astonishing biosphere to inform this search. With infectious enthusiasm, she takes us on an eye-opening journey to the most unusual exoplanets that have shaken our worldview—planets covered in oceans of lava, lonely wanderers lost in space, and others with more than one sun in their sky! And the best contenders for Alien Earths. We also see the imagined worlds of science fiction and how close they come to reality.

With the James Webb Space Telescope and Dr. Kaltenegger’s pioneering work, she shows that we live in an incredible new epoch of exploration. As our witty and knowledgeable tour guide, Dr. Kaltenegger shows how we discover not merely new continents, like the explorers of old, but whole new worlds circling other stars and how we could spot life there. Worlds from where aliens may even be gazing back at us. What if we're not alone?

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“A stellar exploration … Readers will be riveted.”—Publishers Weekly

“Exquisite book is for all who have peered into the night sky pondering the mysteries of the universe … a mind-bending journey.”—Booklist (starred)

“Eloquent … Science and space enthusiasts will revel in this journey through the cosmos. They will undoubtedly learn novel information along the way.”—Library Journal

Captivating for the Astronomy Enthusiast

Captivating. Her thoroughness was out of this world (pun intended). I loved her sense of humor too.

I really enjoyed her perspective on the subject

This book made me think about the Universe in an awe inspiring way. There is so much out there that we can learn before we get the ability to go visit these alien worlds. It also reminds us that we have to take care of the only planet that we evolved on.

Engrossing! Very well conceived and written.

Loved it! I found this book, written by an accomplished scientist with a doctorate, to be very interesting and engaging and easy to follow( I am not a scientist). It was so well conceived and written that it can be enjoyed by anyone interested in the subject of exoplanets. There are plenty of explanations, comparisons and examples to help convey the concepts discussed. I liked the many personal insights and experiences included, and of course the humor too! It left me wanting more and has renewed my own interest in the subject. Solid performance by Ms Campbell on the reading.

answers big questions

Well narrated and tackles one of our most enduring questions - are we alone. Very enjoyable and thought-provoking.