Worlds Without End: Exoplanets, Habitability, and the Future of Humanity

by Chris Impey, Jonathan Todd Ross (narrator)

Planet Earth, it turns out, may not be the best of all possible worlds—and lately humanity has been depleting resources, decimating species, and degrading everything needed for life. Meanwhile, human ingenuity has opened up a vista of habitable worlds well beyond our wildest dreams of outposts on Mars. Worlds without End is an expertly guided tour of this thrilling frontier in the search for planets with the potential to host life.

Chris Impey conducts listeners across the vast, fast-developing field of astrobiology, surveying the dizzying advances carrying us ever closer to the discovery of life beyond Earth—and the prospect of humans living on another planet. With a view spanning astronomy, planetary science, geology, chemistry, and biology, Impey provides a state-of-the-art account of what's behind this accelerating progress, what's next, and what it might mean for humanity's future.

The existential threats that we face here on Earth lend urgency to this search, raising the Could space be our salvation? From the definition of habitability to the changing shape of space exploration—as it expands beyond the interests of government to the pursuits of private industry—Worlds without End shows us the science, on horizons near and far, that may hold the answers.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Space, Astronomy, Adult, Nature, History

Audio CD

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

Chris Impey is a University Distinguished Professor in the Astronomy Department and Associate Dean in the College of Science at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He has written popular articles on astronomy and is the author of a number of popular science books. The Living Cosmos is a tour of the search for life in the universe, and the pair of books How It Ends and How It Began cover the origin and fate of everything in the universe. Talking About Life is a series of conversations with pioneers in astrobiology. With Holly Henry, he wrote about the scientific and cultural impact of a dozen iconic NASA missions, Dreams of Other Worlds. A book about his experiences teaching cosmology to Tibetan monks, Humble Before the Void was published in 2014, and his book about the future of humans in space, called Beyond, was published in 2015. His first novel is called Shadow World.

Reviews

[Nataliya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away... well, we needed to find some exoplanets other than our third rock from the Sun, since we all know there's no way we can be that exceptional in our vast universe. And apparently finding other planets is a bit harder than pointing a good telescope at the sky and reeeaaaaalllly zooming in. But then some very brilliant people came up with the way to assess tiny morsels of data and suddenly there are enough exoplanets discovered to provide them wholesale.

Chris Impey takes us through the hunt for exoplanets and methods used to find them; with enough information to make it interesting but also without detail overload, just enough to get a reader sufficiently interested to look up more details later if they desire. He gives an overview of different types of exoplanets (I’ve always thought of Earth as a water world; yeah, we are not even close to that) and what may or may not be conducive to life there (because let’s face it, a major thing about looking for exoplanets is finding life there, maybe even intelligent life¹).

¹

Impey then takes a bit of pondering of how one can get to those planets, which leads into our attempts to leave our dirt ball to go into space (there’s a bit of shoutout to space billionaires [ughhh] that added their efforts to the space race) and some ethical issues coming from treating space as a final frontier and something to mine and exploit by a earth denizens not particularly known for treating their own planet well. There are thoughts about our future post-Earth, as a multi-planet society, mostly within our Solar System, but with possibility for more.

It’s pretty interesting and written both accessibly and engagingly, a great primer on the exoplanets which should be pretty good even for a casual reader not familiar much with the topic.

4 stars.

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Thanks to NetGalley and MIT Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Also posted on my blog.

[Wick Welker · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are more planets than stars.

I’ve always loved cosmology and astronomy books and this scratched that itch. You’ll get an engaging look at the science and discovery over the last 20 years of exoplanets. The short of it is this: there are a lot of them. Only about 5,000 exoplanets have actually been observed, either through the wobble method or the shadow transit method. There are lots of gas giants and lots of super earths. There is a jupiter out there with a tighter orbit than Mercury that orbits its sun in like 8 hours. That is simply insane. There are ice giants, water worlds, earth clones, exo moons and even rogue planets that have been ejected from their solar systems. The planets and solar systems that inhabit our galaxy are extremely diverse. We can sniff biosignatures from these planets and know the atmospheric conditions that may be conducive to life. Our solar system is not prototypical.

This book also goes into the Drake Equation and Fermi Paradox as well as space law and the possibilities of colonization and terraforming. Great read.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful, comprehensive book on exoplanet science! It can get technical at times but it's mostly accessible, and everything is explained in great detail. I think these words could be turned into an amazing documentary miniseries - I could picture everything pretty well. I could've done with less Elon Musk and more acknowledgement of historically invisible labor in astronomy, but other than those I enjoyed everything in this book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worlds Without End by Chris Impey is an accessible yet detailed look at exoplanets, from how they could form, how we first discovered one, how we have continued on that path, and the importance of such research for humanity.

I came to this book expecting a great experience, I have taken 3 of Impey's MOOCs on Coursera and found them to be interesting, informative, and even fun. This book did not let me down.

This volume is primarily concerned with the big picture and with the ideas rather than the mathematics and technical science of astronomy. That doesn't mean he skips these things, rather that he tells us what we need to know then mentions, for example, the numbers as illustration. If you're familiar with the science this brings the big concepts into view, which can sometimes get lost when we are working our way through the minutiae of calculations. If you aren't familiar with the science, this is an excellent way to learn what is going on without being intimidated by a lot of mathematics.

While this is first of all astronomy, it is with a purpose and a destination, namely that of astrobiology and then to the possible future of humankind on, or off, Earth. Because these are the endpoints and ultimate takeaways, glossing the math to make sure the concepts are clear is ideal.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in exoplanets, astrobiology, and possible future solutions for our life (possibly) after Earth.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Peter Tillman]

Nature's short review, https://www.nature.com/articles/d4158...
"The first confirmed exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star was spotted in 1995. More than 5,000 exoplanets are now known; hundreds are Earth-like, including one circling Proxima Centauri, the star nearest to the Sun. Astronomer Chris Impey’s intriguing investigation suggests that at least one hosts life, given that, even on Earth, life arose “in the darkness and crushing pressure of a hydrothermal vent”. His sci-fi epilogue imagines a starship sent to Proxima Centauri in 100 years, carrying frozen human embryos to be raised as pioneers by cyborgs."

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s maybe not quite as engaging as Phil Plait’s work (although Impey has his moments), but this is still an interesting and super accessible overview of the general types of exoplanets we’ve found so far, what they might be like, how they’re found in the first place, and how we might get to them (or not). There’s even a whole section about SETI/the Fermi Paradox/the Drake Equation which is totally fun or existentially terrifying to think about depending on what mood you’re in.

I could’ve done without most of the last part that involved the never-ending billionaire pissing contests we’re all too familiar with, but unfortunately that’s the reality/hellscape we currently inhabit. One can only hope that by the time we build colonies on the third exomoon of a Neptini that we’ll be past all that. If we don't extinct ourselves first, anyway.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this on my want-to-read list for some time, given my interest in space/astronomy/cosmology/etc., including the exotic nature of exoplanets. Up to reading this book, I had not found something that really dug into exoplanets: How many are habitable? How many are there in general? Is the Drake Equation realistic? Tell me more about that one exoplanet where it rains glass at 500+ MPH?

Chris Impey's 'Worlds Without End' is an attempt to tackle not only exoplanets in their recent history, current form, and likely next steps & discoveries, but also a way to tie in space exploration with humanity and our current state of affairs on Earth, re: climate change and such.

The first 75-80% of this book is tremendous and hits exactly the spot I was hoping for. The author explains how exoplanets came about in theory, then in research, and then in proven discoveries. This includes detection methods for exoplanets, key figures in this semi-niche part of astronomy, and how current and near-future space telescopes will continue to aid in this search. Impey also, of course, dives into the fanciful worlds that we can only imagine: the aforementioned raining glass, the oft-discussed exoplanet that rains diamonds, and one world where winds howl at an incomprehensible 5,000 MPH. All of this perfectly satiates both the astronomy scholar and the everyday person curious about space.

The book's weakest point is, by far, in the final several chapters, as the author begins diving into the ethics of space, future uses of space resources (i.e. asteroid mining and Mars/Moon colonization), and current leaders in the commercial field of space exploration.

Chris Impey's contempt for Elon Musk is glaring. I am not the biggest fan of him myself, but even a critic cannot ignore the success he has had in his life - success that cannot simply be explained by luck or 'throw it at a wall and see what sticks'.

To his credit, Impey acknowledges this, but only after this introduction (p. 230): "...there's Musk, the man who tweeted that aliens built the Egyptian pyramids ... He wishes he didn't have to eat so he could have more time to work. He's argued that humans live inside a video game ... He's called on Mars to be nuked ..."And this is a type of writing that rubs me the wrong way. None of this is incorrect, but Impey deliberately presents it in a way that tells the reader Elon is off his rocker. Sure, he has a whole library worth of fanciful ideas and quotes, but to present it in this way, as a way of introduction and in language that is clearly not meant to flatter, is in poor taste. (Not to mention that the simulation hypothesis, similar to the academically-respected parallel universes hypothesis, is in a possible-but-unable-to-prove territory, so why should this arbitrarily be held against Musk?)

The author does not have as strong a grudge against Blue Origin's Jeff Bezos, to whom he adds a more even-keeled brief biography but still cannot help from adding "He's blunt with his employees, as these rhetorical questions illustrate: "Why are you wasting my life?" and "Are you lazy or just incompetent?" and "I'm sorry, did I take my stupid pills today?" " (p. 232). Again, not necessarily false, but not an impartial way to introduce him.

Impey spends the final few dozen pages of this book waxing on space ethics - something that I agree needs to be taken seriously - but again tinting the narrative: when discussing criticisms about space travel, Impey sums his views up: "The new commercial [space] activity is billionaires with fancy toys driven by their egos." (p. 249). If these billionaires weren't having material success, I would agree. But instead, it's an eye-rolling comment with the author's bias explicitly evident.

The first three-quarters of the book was fantastic. The back part of the book, while it tries to address valid discussion points, veers too much into the author's own views and biases. Perhaps that's more on me, where I should not have expected a fully scientific-focused book given the book flap description. But alas.

Three stars (more like 3.5) for a very much worth reading first 50-75% of this book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting, far-reaching exploration of the state of exoplanet research and practice. A truly thrilling read, exactly what this future starfarer (in my dreams) needed. My new favourite word: Neptinis!

This text reminds me of a series of short vignettes the Space Channel used to play between shows and commercials. Breathtaking high-resolution images from Hubble interlaced with facts about the universe and backed by music that somehow conjured up an impression of deep space.

Yet, breadth means there's a trade-off with depth. Not only in terms of detail, but also the author being out of depth on certain topics. Kim Stanley Robinson is a brilliant and moral writer, but he is not "unique" in this; see several authors already cited, including Nnedi Okorafor, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Octavia E. Butler (my guess is that the author hasn't read a lot of science fiction). The author relies heavily on activity and actors with "a Western, Caucasian lineage" even as he criticizes this narrow focus. Enough about Musk, already! And while he goes to some effort to bring in women and talk openly about sexism, others and other matters are suspiciously absent. Oddly, there's only one mention of JAXA, despite the tremendous work this organization has done and continues to do within Japan and through collaborations internationally.

At times, the author also makes claims that are too strong, and some that are simply untrue. We "can't communicate with chimpanzees," but that's just factually wrong--chimpanzees can learn sign language as well as communicate non-verbally in ways similar to us, especially emotional expressions. Exoplanets that are more or less entirely oceanic in makeup mean that "the evolution of land animals who develop tools and technology would be impossible," but why? I can imagine, let's say, "floaters" that are like sheets and can allow parts of their body to rise to the surface to escape predators or gather nutrients or even "to boldly go where no sheet has gone before." Perhaps the sheets that survive, if not thrive, are the ones that became land-like, floating on the surface, perhaps parts of their bodies always or nearly always touching the air. Perhaps other organisms find these "floating bits" to be habitable refuges or treasure troves of nutrients. Perhaps they start to build simple structures on these "islands," even temporary ones that wash away and need to be rebuilt, like spider webs or beaver dams. Perhaps their increasing presence or even the exchange of particles and materials from water to "land" to air leads to environmental changes, even local and unstable ones. And so on and so forth ... all you need is a little imagination.

Now, one phrase really brought me up short: "gravity is a bitch." I can't believe that such a blatantly profane and sexist phrase would crop up in a nonfiction text by a renowned professor and escape the peer review and editorial processes. What? Remove this, please. (Duh!)

Altogether, I appreciate the thorough overview of where we're at and where we might be able to go, from Earth into the cosmos. I hope that these issues will be ironed out before publication. When it comes to space, I'm a romantic. We have a lot of things to deal with here, on our planet, our best and only home. But many of us are driven to explore "strange new worlds" and there are nearly endless possibilities, a universe of "worlds without end." In some sense, I'm left deeply sad that I'll not be here to experience it. Then again, no human might be, if we stay the current course and predictions of our future hold true. Can we set aside our self-serving natures, our primal us-versus-them mindsets, our limited ability to look ahead? If we can do that now, then our descendants may be able to reach other stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and MIT Press for the advance copy.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you think he knows the cover is the CBC logo?

[Brian Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit wary when I saw this book because there seem to be almost as many books about exoplanets and astrobiology as there have been planets discovered around new stars. However, it proved a pleasant surprise, as a result of the approach that Chris Impey has taken, and I found it an enjoyable read.

In four sections, Impey takes us through the search for exoplanets, the potential habitability of different worlds, from gas giants to Earth clones, what can be done to search for the existence of life in other planetary systems, and space exploration. The last section, to be honest, really is unnecessary - it's a distinctly different topic covered better in other titles, and I would have been happy to have had more on the earlier subjects. But in the first three sections, the great thing about Impey's approach is the way he drives the discoveries and ideas (there aren't, of course, any astrobiology discoveries per se as it is all theoretical so far) from the individuals involved.

To pick out two examples, the 'Doppler wobble' chapter begins with the sounds of corks popping in 1995 as Swiss astronomers in the south of France celebrated the uncovering of data that provided the first confirmation of an exoplanet, despite, as Impey comments 'using a telescope not big enough to be in the top seventy worldwide.' (It wasn't the first detection, but the first time it became pretty much definitive.) In a later chapter we see the Drake equation being first written in 1961. This very guesswork so-called equation is perhaps given rather more coverage than it deserves as it tells us nothing: but the story is interesting, and, unlike some, Impey at least acknowledges the degree of uncertainty that makes it pretty much useless, except as a way of reminding us of how difficult it is have any idea of how common intelligent life might be in our galaxy.

I do have one big complaint - like many scientists writing popular science, Impey is fine when he sticks to the science content, but can go astray when he gets into history. He commits the worst example of Brunoitis I've seen in a long while. Giordano Bruno (who funnily enough I've just reviewed in his fictional role as a detective) was a sixteenth century Italian mystic who famously commented on the stars being suns with peopled planets and who was burned as a heretic. Impey makes the two classic mistakes. Firstly, he makes it sound as if Bruno's cosmological ideas were original - but they were taken from the much earlier Nicholas of Cusa. The second is to suggest that Bruno was martyred for his science. In reality, Bruno's primary heresies were all conventional religious ones (notably, Nicholas was not persecuted just for having these ideas - in fact, he was made a cardinal). Of course Bruno's persecution was still horrible - but Bruno didn't die because of his very waffly cosmological musing.

As long as you hold your breath and get past Bruno (who is much more entertaining as a fictional character) though, this book gives a great picture of the personalities involved in exoplanet detection and astrobiology, and simple yet effective descriptions of the science that lies behind the discoveries and ideas.

[Antonio Gallo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una esplorazione della fattibilità e delle implicazioni etiche per cercare di stabilire la vita umana oltre la Terra. Nel suo ultimo, Impey, un acclamato professore di astronomia e autore di Einstein's Monsters, Dreams of Other Worlds e molti altri libri sul cosmo, fonde una storia dell'astronomia con un tour delle ultime tecnologie e dei principali pionieri dell'esplorazione spaziale.

Ad oggi, gli scienziati hanno scoperto più di 5.000 esopianeti, che sono pianeti che orbitano attorno a stelle diverse dal nostro sole. Si prevede che questo numero aumenterà rapidamente man mano che la tecnologia renderà più facile il riconoscimento e l'immagine degli esopianeti e l'identificazione di quelli nella cosiddetta "zona abitabile".

Ciò significa che la possibilità di scoprire la vita extraterrestre è sempre più a portata di mano. "È sorprendentemente probabile che non siamo l'unico tempo e luogo in cui si è evoluta una civiltà avanzata", scrive Impey. Nel frattempo, l'abitabilità della Terra sta diminuendo, con pochi progressi verso una soluzione all'attuale "crisi della sostenibilità".

L'autore esamina i molti pianeti che possono ospitare la vita, le tecnologie e gli scienziati attuali che consentono queste profonde scoperte e le possibili tecnologie future che potrebbero portarci lì e consentire un insediamento a lungo termine. Durante queste discussioni complesse ma fluide, Impey sottolinea la necessità di un'attenta introspezione sull'etica dell'espansione della nostra impronta nello spazio e se dovremmo invece concentrare le nostre risorse sul superamento delle sfide climatiche sulla Terra.

"Popolare lo spazio è un'attività che ci spinge verso l'esterno mentre induce l'introspezione e ci motiva a crescere come specie", scrive. Nei prossimi decenni, una serie di sforzi per immaginare, attraversare ed esplorare i confini remoti del nostro sistema solare e oltre porterà questi problemi in prima linea nelle decisioni per la sopravvivenza a lungo termine. "Siamo curiosi", scrive, "se l'esperimento iniziato sulla Terra subito dopo la sua formazione sia stato replicato altrove".

Un'introduzione provocatoria ed espansiva al nuovo entusiasmante campo della scienza degli esopianeti.

[Thomas Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Impey’s survey of the past, present, and future of exoplanet research is engaging and contains numerous interesting facts and figures. Impey certainly makes the case for allocating resources in this exciting area. My only criticism is directed at the author’s writing style. For example, I have two quibbles that made for a somewhat distracting read. First, the author’s misuse of “myriad” (e.g., stating “the potential for biology on the myriad of planets …” on page 1) and failure to recognize that the word “data” is the plural form (“the data is” in numerous places, e.g., page 31) are regrettable. Second, in numerous places in the book Impey inserts comments around the lack of female representation in astronomy. No doubt that was, and still is, a problem and there is a need to get that message out. However, when Impey makes the point (which he does several times in the book) it seems contrived and forced. I think each of those issues could have been remedied with better editing.
This is an interesting book by a real expert in the field and worth reading. I loved that he sprinkled in references to the foresight of science fiction (Cixin Liu, Jules Verne, Carl Sagan, and the like). However, it would have been more enjoyable if the writing had been more crisp - likely the fault of the editors.

[Mamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book when I was at the library, and I was intrigued. It’s not the kind of book I usually pick up, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure I would actually read it. I’m glad I did! Learning about exoplanets and educating myself on the news around space exploration and discoveries was fascinating!

Astronomers are further along than I thought. Did you know scientists have already discovered 5,000 exoplanets (planets outside our solar system)? Many more exist. The next step is discovering which ones are habitable, which is a challenging task since they are so far away. Even to just find an exoplanet, scientists have to use roundabout, technical methods that sometimes depend on rare occurrences, like capturing an eclipse between an exoplanet and its nearest star or moon with data from a telescope. This book held so much interesting information and presented it in a way that was digestible for a non-scientist. Impey incorporated literature, philosophy, politics, business, and ethics. He included the theme of saving our planet before investing large amounts of money in settling (and possibly destroying) new ones. In all, the book was about humanity and the future. It gave me a lot to think about. I may just have to buy a copy of the book for my own library!

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid Exposition Of The Topic. There really isn't much more to say about this particular book. If you're interested in the future of humanity at all, particularly our future as a space faring / multi-planet species, you need to read this book. If you're interested in the potential for finding or communicating with non-Earth lifeforms, you need to read this book. In both of these arenas, Impey does a solid job of explaining the history of the relevant sciences, where they have been recently, where they are projected to be within the next generation or so, and what it would take to actually get or communicate with... much of anywhere, really. While exoplanets - planets beyond our local solar system and even beyond our own galaxy - are the main discussion, there are some discussions of the possibilities of life beyond Earth even within our local system that are also quite realistic, even including potential timeframes for when this could happen. Wow, I've actually said more about this book than I thought I would. :) In short, read this book and learn a thing or two. Unless you happen to be an astrophysicist specializing in exoplanets already. ;) Very much recommended.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slow read for me, since I know very little about science and there is a lot of information here. From the first people who looked to the skies to the possible far futures of humanity, the author explores, not only what’s out there, but how to get there. Some chapters were humbling in that we are so special and the odds of us being here are infinitesimal. The Drake equation makes it unlikely for us to ever find anyone out there. On the other hand, there are so many worlds in the universe that we can’t be alone. The author doesn’t take a position, just explains all the theories. Again, there are so many concepts here, that this review would be very long if I listed them all. It is just a fascinating look at possible habitable planets (or moons), how we’re finding them, the scientific breakthroughs that are making it possible to at least dream of getting there. The search of intelligent life and many other interesting theories.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#MIT Press!

[Răzvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

citEști „Worlds Without End” de Chris Impey : Ce te legitimează la ultima frontieră
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSkVz...

„Bezos și Musk sunt de acord dintr-un singur punct de vedere: cheia scăderii costurilor pentru lansările pe orbita Pământului este refolosirea” p.234 Chris Impey, „Worlds Without End Exoplanets Habitability and the Future of Humanity”, The MIT Press, 2023
Când te gândești la perspective ai în vedere și anumite distanțe ideale pentru asta. În „Worlds Without End” astronomul Chris Impey investighează aventura care a scos căutarea unor planete ospitaliere din ficțiune și planificări de stat în zona antreprenorilor privați. Dacă a reușit omul de știință să-și impună obiceiul de a preda periodic elemente de cosmologie unor grupuri de călugări tibetani, ai și tu destule elemente pentru a intra în jocul său captivant.
„Această aventură se va decide în următorii 30 de ani” (p.269) Chris Impey, „Worlds Without End Exoplanets Habitability and the Future of Humanity”, The MIT Press, 2023

[skylar · Rating 4 out of 5]

an unexpectedly profound read. my issue with science writing is simple: scientists make bad writers (i say as a science student and writer). impey, however, does not: his writing is clear, explanatory, and a joy to read.

i especially appreciated the scope of his references. he wasn’t just discussing scientific resources on space— he brought in cultural and artistic points of view, often referencing poetry, sci-fi, and other humanistic texts.

my one issue is in some of the content. upon reading the latter sections of the book, you’re left wondering why discuss exoplanets at all. let’s be clear— i enjoyed the content of the exoplanet section, but it feels like a logical other from the rest of the book.

overall, enjoyed and would rec to anyone looking for a scientific read that also gets into more of the weeds ethical futures in space.

[Simms · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounding up for once. An excellent overview of the current state of exoplanet science, with an extended coda on other space-exploration topics (asteroid mining, interplanetary exploration, geoengineering, and the like). I struggle with giving a book like this full marks - the science is cutting-edge, so it'll basically be out of date the moment it goes to print. That's not the book's fault, and it feels wrong to penalize it in a star rating for choosing such a subject, but I can't help it. A similar book written 3 years from now may surpass it by dint of more current information, but for the moment it's about as good as anyone could ever ask for.

Thanks to NetGalley and MIT Press for the ARC.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impey is a professor of astronomy and a lucid writer of popular science books. This book is written in 4 parts:

1. The ongoing search for exoplanets. We have had much success here
2. The ongoing search for habitable places among the exoplanets. This is a newer field of research. I wasn't aware of how much progress we've made here
3. The ongoing search for life beyond earth.
4. The future of space exploration, with a big emphasis on human travel to other places in our solar system and nearby solar systems. This part is necessarily speculative, but entirely science based.

I enjoyed this. Impey manged to keep ot lively and readable.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores the question of habitable planets beyond our solar system and the possibility of human colonization. What has the latest science taught us about exoplanets? What would it take for humans to travel to distant worlds? This book is an approachable, thorough, and fascinating look at what the future might hold.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest an voluntary review.

[Sean Sales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worlds without end is an inspiring look at the vast array of potentially habitable worlds out in the cosmos. The book provides a detailed account of how we identify exo planets, how we might detect life and techno signatures, and the potential implications of those discoveries. What was a pleasant surprise in the later chapters of the book is an optimistic overview of the current state of space exploration and where we might be heading as a space faring species.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

***.5

A good basic introduction to exoplanets and astrobiology, SETI and space travel.
However, there's almost nothing new that I haven't previously read in a dozen different books, so best for beginners to get an overview of the subject.

-1 star for seemingly lifting half of the contemporary spaceflight section straight from a SpaceX press release, reporting unsubstantiated marketing hype as if it was established fact.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some absolutely fascinating science in this. I think everyone should be required to read nonstop, astronomy books in order to appreciate our tiny place in this universe. Sometimes it feels like everything that can be known as already known, but take a quick trip to the edge of astronomy and you realize that what we know equates to a cup of water compared to the entirety of the world’s oceans

[Roo O'brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid summary of the current (well, as of 2022- it’s a fast moving field) state of play of exoplanet research. There’s some padding in places around science fiction and earth sustainability topics which feels like it was forced by the publisher and a bit cobbled together, but Impey is fluid and interesting on more comfortable scientific ground.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free book giveaway

Interesting; full of information.

[Blake Dishotel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew nothing about space before reading this book but after finishing it I want to know more

[Lisa Grønsund]

I've received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, for review consideration.

RTC

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is easily the most accessible way to learn about exoplanets, and I still am confused (I have zero background in astronomy).