Looking for Life in the Universe: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Scientists in the Field Series) (Paperback)

~ Ellen Jackson (Author), Nic Bishop (Photographer) "We LIVe on an amazing planet, a planet filled with wonder and mystery..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Project Phoenix, Allen Telescope Array (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-What is it like to seek life elsewhere in the universe? Astrophysicist Dr. Jill Tarter, Director of the Phoenix Project of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and the woman Carl Sagan based his character Ellie Arroway on in his best-selling novel Contact, does just that. While some of her job involves long hours spent studying the painstakingly detailed output of a radio telescope, her work involves much more. The bulk of the text and the large, dynamic color photographs concentrate on the spectacular radio telescope at Arecibo in Puerto Rico and the work of the scientist and her colleagues at this location. Throughout, Tarter's enthusiasm for her field is clear. There are many books on the current search for life outside Earth, such as Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest's colorful Is Anybody Out There? (DK, 1998) and Kim McDonald's Life in Outer Space (RSVP, 2000). Few focus on the scientists as Jackson does. An exciting, visually awesome look at frontier science.
Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. The newest entry in this terrific series takes readers considerably further into the "field" than many of its predecessors, with a profile of Dr. Jill Tarter, astrophysicist and a research leader at the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute. Jackson follows Tarter through one of her semiannual tours to the mammoth radio telescope at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, where the shifts begin at midnight, and receptors sensitive enough to detect the night-light-size transmitter aboard Pioneer 10, seven billion miles out, comb millions of frequencies in tiny portions of the sky for hints of a regular signal. (No luck so far, but stay tuned.) In addition to tracing Tarter's career, which developed from a childhood interest in engineering, Jackson presents the possibility of life on two other bodies in our solar system, and closes with an optimistic look at SETI's future. Bishop's color photos mix views of scientists at work both indoors and outdoors, along with evocative photo montages and lucid diagrams that help to explain what the researchers are looking for, and why. Readers will come away with a clear sense of the lure of this frustrating but exciting endeavor, and with the help of the resources cited at the back of the book, they can not only learn more about it but also participate in it directly. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (May 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618548866
• ISBN-13: 978-0618548866
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,093,004 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Searching, always searching..., November 9, 2009

By	Madigan McGillicuddy (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking for Life in the Universe (Hardcover)

Packed with facts, much of the information is presented in terms that youngsters can understand, i.e. "It would take 10 billion bowls of cereal to fill [the telescope's dish] to the brim." Part of the "Scientists in the Field" series and told from a third person perspective, Jill Tarter, director of SETI (Search for ExtraTerrrestrial Intelligence) and the woman whom Contact by Carl Sagan is loosely based on is heavily featured throughout the book. Many of the colorful, clear photographs are taken with a wide angle lens and are distorted in a "bubble" like fashion. An addendum at the end of the book lists related websites for children, additional bibliography and is careful to note that SETI does not work with people who have claimed to be abducted by aliens. This non-fiction piece would be ideal to augment 3rd, 4th and 5th grade astronomy centered lesson plans as well as for any young budding scientist. Additionally, this book could be used as part of a unit on "careers"