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A narrative and visual exploration of humanity’s age-old search for--and fixation with--aliens, from the science to pop culture to UFO sightings. First Contact explores the ancient idea—and epic quest to prove—that we are not alone in the universe. Presented in a heavily illustrated cabinet of curiosities format, the book explores our fascination with aliens from early history to present day, including chapters on alien conspiracy theories, aliens in science fiction, the actual science behind our search for aliens, and what happens if and when they come…or, if we are in fact descended from aliens. Each chapter is filled with bite-sized explainers and longer sections on meatier topics such as habitable zones, xenolinguistics, and UFO religions. Smaller topics will include alien abductions, ancient astronauts, exodinosaurs, Project Cyclops, and the Great Moon Hoax.
List of contents
PROLOGUE: THE GREAT SEARCH
Humans have expected for tens of thousands of years that we are not alone in the universe.
CHAPTER ONE: ANCIENT ALIENS
The debate over the existence of extraterrestrial life takes many twists and turns throughout history.
CHAPTER TWO: WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
Astronomical advances in the twentieth century unveil an unexpectedly silent universe.
CHAPTER THREE: POP CULTURE ALIENS
We haven’t found real aliens yet, but our countless fictional versions will tide us over until we do.
CHAPTER FOUR: FLYING SAUCERS
As scientists look to find life in space, many people believe it is already here on Earth.
CHAPTER FIVE: THE ALIEN NEXT DOOR
The search for life in our solar system includes many tantalizing nearby worlds.
CHAPTER SIX: DEEP SPACE
The search for life beyond the solar system has been supercharged by exoplanet discoveries and hunts for technosignatures.
CHAPTER SEVEN: CONTACT
Preparations for a post-detection future are in full swing.
CHAPTER EIGHT: NO CONTACT
What would it mean to humanity if we never found alien life?
CHAPTER NINE: WHEN WE BECOME THEM
If humans become a spacefaring diaspora, we may become the extraterrestrials we seek.
AFTERWORD
Sources
Index
Acknowledgments
Photo Credits
About the author
Becky Ferreira is a science writer based in Ithaca, New York. She has bylines in The New York Times, Motherboard/VICE, WIRED, Popular Science, MIT Technology Review, and The Washington Post, among other publications. She has also appeared as an expert guest on the Science Channel and hosted the Motherboard video series "Space Show."
Summary
A narrative and visual exploration of humanity’s age-old search for--and fixation with--aliens, from the science to pop culture to UFO sightings.
First Contact explores the ancient idea—and epic quest to prove—that we are not alone in the universe. Presented in a heavily illustrated cabinet of curiosities format, the book explores our fascination with aliens from early history to present day, including chapters on alien conspiracy theories, aliens in science fiction, the actual science behind our search for aliens, and what happens if and when they come…or, if we are in fact descended from aliens. Each chapter is filled with bite-sized explainers and longer sections on meatier topics such as habitable zones, xenolinguistics, and UFO religions. Smaller topics will include alien abductions, ancient astronauts, exodinosaurs, Project Cyclops, and the Great Moon Hoax.
