The Science of Aliens: The Real Science Behind the Gods and Monsters from Space and Time

by Mark Brake

Overview

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.

Otherworldly topics include:

• What Xenomorphs from Alien and Na’vi from Avatar have in common
• Darwin among aliens
• Extraterrestrials in Einstein’s sky
• Aliens in our space age
• And so much more

Visualize the unknown and redefine your place in a changing cosmos with The Science of Aliens.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510767102
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	07/05/2022
Series:	The Science of
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	669,570
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Mark Brake developed the world’s first science and science fiction degree in 1999. He also launched the world’s first astrobiology degree in 2005. He’s communicated science through film, television, print, and radio on five continents, including for NASA, Seattle’s Science Fiction Museum, the BBC, the Royal Institution, and Sky Movies. He was one of the founding members of NASA’s Astrobiology Institute Science Communication Group. He has written more than a dozen books, including Alien Life Imagined for Cambridge University Press in 2012. Mark also tours Europe with Science of Doctor Who, Science of Star Wars, and Science of Superheroes road shows.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Part I Aliens in History 1

Aliens in Ancient Greece 3

World Turned Upside Down 11

The System of the World 19

Darwin among the Aliens 26

Einstein's Sky 33

Aliens in the Space Age 43

Part II It's Life, Jim, But Not As We Know It 53

What Do Xenomorphs from Alien and Na'vi from Avatar Have in Common? 55

Lost in Space: Are Silicon Spiders a Thing? 62

Why Do the Heptapods in Arrival Look Like Octopuses? 67

Dune and Pandora: When Does the Ecology of an Alien World Become a Character? 72

Is Jar Jar Binks to Blame for So Few Aquatic Aliens? 79

Would Luke Skywalker Really Have Been Human? 86

What Do Aliens in DCs Superman and Marvel's Avengers Have in Common? 91

Why Might Our Galaxy Be Full of Ewoks? 97

Part III Alien Worlds 101

Aliens on Our Moon: What Was America's Great Moon Hoax? 103

Spaceballs: How Do Aliens Avoid Life's Big Obstacles? 112

How Does Alien Migration Happen in Star Wars and Star Trek? 118

How Would the Engineers in Prometheus Know Which Star Systems to Colonize? 123

Forbidden Planet: How Weird Are Alien Worlds? 127

Cloud City: Is There Life on Gas Giants? 132

The Wandering Earth: Are There Rogue Alien Worlds? 137

Part IV Alien Invasion 143

Are the Ancient Aliens in Assassin's Creed Possible? 145

Foundation and Mandalorian: How Might Alien Empires Grow? 153

Groot, Spock, or Bug: What Might Aliens Look Like? 160

Time Lords, Vulcans, and Kryptonians: Are Clever Aliens Violent? 164

Close Encounters: Was 'Oumuamua an Alien Contact Event? 171

Cloverfield and Contact: What Is the Most Likely Form of Alien Contact? 178

John Was Trying to Contact Aliens: Are We Alone? 182

Index 191

Editorial Reviews

06/01/2022

Brake's (The Science of James Bond) book takes a long view of aliens in literature and film. The book is divided into four parts, each with a general theme. The first section discussed aliens in history, beginning in ancient Greece with Aristotle's claim that man is alone in the universe. Brake claims that science fiction begins with Copernicus, who theorized that worlds other than our own might exist. The author also briefly discusses H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, whose themes were influenced by Darwin's On the Origin of Species. In the book's second section, Brake looks at Xenomorphs in Alien and Avatar; ecological themes in Avatar and Dune; the aliens common to both the DC and Marvel universes; and the Star Wars franchise (which gets several chapters). The book's last sections deal with interplanetary exploration and alien invasion in film and print media. Brake's writing is not overly academic, making it suitable for readers of all levels. VERDICT Recommend for science fiction fans or readers interested in extraterrestrial life will find this an interesting read.—John Napp

Library Journal