Ceres: An Ice-rich World In The Inner Solar System

Ceres: An Ice-rich World In The Inner Solar System

Author: Jian-yang Li

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2022-01-17

Total Pages: 255

ISBN-13: 9811238162

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Thanks to NASA's Dawn mission, the last half-decade has witnessed a significant advance in our understanding of Ceres. The largest object between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, Ceres is the most water-rich body in the inner solar system after Earth which shows evidence of brine-driven activity in its recent history, and even possibly at the present. The potential existence of a subsurface ocean or regional seas in Ceres and its salt- and organic-rich composition underscore its astro-biological significance. After signaling the discovery of the asteroid belt more than two centuries ago, Ceres once again reveals new insights for us to understand the formation, evolution, and habitability of this large icy body in our solar system.This book reviews the current state of knowledge about Ceres after the extensive scientific exploration by the Dawn mission. Starting from the introduction of the discovery of Ceres and what we know about this enigmatic world before Dawn's arrival, each chapter focuses on one aspect of Ceres, including its surface composition, its geology, the role of water ice in shaping Ceres's surface, its interior structure, and expressions of cryovolcanic or brine activity at the surface. Following this framework, the book addresses the astro-biological significance of Ceres. The last chapter summarizes the new questions opened by the Dawn mission and the next step to exploring the dwarf planet closest to Earth.Related Link(s)


Book Synopsis Ceres: An Ice-rich World In The Inner Solar System by : Jian-yang Li

Download or read book Ceres: An Ice-rich World In The Inner Solar System written by Jian-yang Li and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2022-01-17 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thanks to NASA's Dawn mission, the last half-decade has witnessed a significant advance in our understanding of Ceres. The largest object between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, Ceres is the most water-rich body in the inner solar system after Earth which shows evidence of brine-driven activity in its recent history, and even possibly at the present. The potential existence of a subsurface ocean or regional seas in Ceres and its salt- and organic-rich composition underscore its astro-biological significance. After signaling the discovery of the asteroid belt more than two centuries ago, Ceres once again reveals new insights for us to understand the formation, evolution, and habitability of this large icy body in our solar system.This book reviews the current state of knowledge about Ceres after the extensive scientific exploration by the Dawn mission. Starting from the introduction of the discovery of Ceres and what we know about this enigmatic world before Dawn's arrival, each chapter focuses on one aspect of Ceres, including its surface composition, its geology, the role of water ice in shaping Ceres's surface, its interior structure, and expressions of cryovolcanic or brine activity at the surface. Following this framework, the book addresses the astro-biological significance of Ceres. The last chapter summarizes the new questions opened by the Dawn mission and the next step to exploring the dwarf planet closest to Earth.Related Link(s)

Ices in the Solar-System

Ices in the Solar-System

Author: Richard Soare

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2023-11-20

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13: 0323993257

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Ices in the Solar-System: A Volatile-Driven Journey from the Inner Solar System to its Far Reaches details the evolution of ice on planetary bodies within the Solar System, including terrestrial planets and the Moon, Ceres and other dwarf planets or volatile asteroids, icy Galilean and Saturnian satellites, Triton and disparate Uranian moons, and Pluto, other Kuyper belt objects and comets. The book provides a view of different ice types throughout the Solar System, i.e., H2O, CO2, CH4, etc., that characterize icy processes on disparate bodies. Ice and icy processes at micro through macro scales are discussed. The book geographically spans the major planetary bodies of the Solar System, covering surface and subsurface geologies, geophysics and geochemistry of ices to answer questions such as the nature and extent of water ice and different frozen volatile species, how do ices give us clues to interiors and oceans, and more. Presents a comprehensive discussion of icy bodies and processes throughout the Solar System and spanning all applicable planetary bodies Discusses ice at the micro-scale (i.e., post nebular origins) to the macro-scale, facilitating our understanding of icy processes and associated landscape evolution through multi-scalar perspectives Describes the disparate ices associated with the geological evolution of bodies large and small throughout the solar system, broadening the focus and highlighting landscape evolution derived of the disparate ice types


Book Synopsis Ices in the Solar-System by : Richard Soare

Download or read book Ices in the Solar-System written by Richard Soare and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2023-11-20 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ices in the Solar-System: A Volatile-Driven Journey from the Inner Solar System to its Far Reaches details the evolution of ice on planetary bodies within the Solar System, including terrestrial planets and the Moon, Ceres and other dwarf planets or volatile asteroids, icy Galilean and Saturnian satellites, Triton and disparate Uranian moons, and Pluto, other Kuyper belt objects and comets. The book provides a view of different ice types throughout the Solar System, i.e., H2O, CO2, CH4, etc., that characterize icy processes on disparate bodies. Ice and icy processes at micro through macro scales are discussed. The book geographically spans the major planetary bodies of the Solar System, covering surface and subsurface geologies, geophysics and geochemistry of ices to answer questions such as the nature and extent of water ice and different frozen volatile species, how do ices give us clues to interiors and oceans, and more. Presents a comprehensive discussion of icy bodies and processes throughout the Solar System and spanning all applicable planetary bodies Discusses ice at the micro-scale (i.e., post nebular origins) to the macro-scale, facilitating our understanding of icy processes and associated landscape evolution through multi-scalar perspectives Describes the disparate ices associated with the geological evolution of bodies large and small throughout the solar system, broadening the focus and highlighting landscape evolution derived of the disparate ice types

Vesta and Ceres

Vesta and Ceres

Author: Simone Marchi

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2022-03-31

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 1108479731

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A definitive reference on the Dawn mission and its results, covering the formation and evolution of the asteroid belt.


Book Synopsis Vesta and Ceres by : Simone Marchi

Download or read book Vesta and Ceres written by Simone Marchi and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2022-03-31 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A definitive reference on the Dawn mission and its results, covering the formation and evolution of the asteroid belt.

Water Worlds in the Solar System

Water Worlds in the Solar System

Author: Antony Joseph

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2022-11-25

Total Pages: 846

ISBN-13: 0323957188

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Water Worlds in the Solar System: In Search of Habitable Environments and Life is a comprehensive reference on the formation, availability, habitability potential, and astrobiological implications of water in the Solar System. The book provides understanding of the importance of water on Earth to elucidate potential water and biosignature sources on other bodies in the Solar System. It covers processes involved in the formation of Earth and its Moon, genesis of water on those bodies, events on early Earth, and other processes that are applicable to celestial bodies in the Solar System, directly correlating data available on water on other bodies to over 15 Earth analogue sites. This book forms a comprehensive overview on water in the Solar System, from formation to biosignature and habitability considerations. It is ideal for academics, researchers and students working in the field of planetary science, extraterrestrial water research and habitability potential. Presents a comprehensive reference on water in the Solar System, developing readers’ understanding of the importance and occurrence of water on Earth and beyond, all from an oceanographer’s perspective Contrasts terrestrial analogues in relation to their roles in understanding and exploring ocean worlds and habitability Includes numerous figures, illustrations, tables and videos to help readers better understand concepts covered


Book Synopsis Water Worlds in the Solar System by : Antony Joseph

Download or read book Water Worlds in the Solar System written by Antony Joseph and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2022-11-25 with total page 846 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Water Worlds in the Solar System: In Search of Habitable Environments and Life is a comprehensive reference on the formation, availability, habitability potential, and astrobiological implications of water in the Solar System. The book provides understanding of the importance of water on Earth to elucidate potential water and biosignature sources on other bodies in the Solar System. It covers processes involved in the formation of Earth and its Moon, genesis of water on those bodies, events on early Earth, and other processes that are applicable to celestial bodies in the Solar System, directly correlating data available on water on other bodies to over 15 Earth analogue sites. This book forms a comprehensive overview on water in the Solar System, from formation to biosignature and habitability considerations. It is ideal for academics, researchers and students working in the field of planetary science, extraterrestrial water research and habitability potential. Presents a comprehensive reference on water in the Solar System, developing readers’ understanding of the importance and occurrence of water on Earth and beyond, all from an oceanographer’s perspective Contrasts terrestrial analogues in relation to their roles in understanding and exploring ocean worlds and habitability Includes numerous figures, illustrations, tables and videos to help readers better understand concepts covered

How the Mountains Grew

How the Mountains Grew

Author: John Dvorak

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2021-08-03

Total Pages: 382

ISBN-13: 1643135759

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The incredible story of the creation of a continent—our continent— from the acclaimed author of The Last Volcano and Mask of the Sun. The immense scale of geologic time is difficult to comprehend. Our lives—and the entirety of human history—are mere nanoseconds on this timescale. Yet we hugely influenced by the land we live on. From shales and fossil fuels, from lake beds to soil composition, from elevation to fault lines, what could be more relevant that the history of the ground beneath our feet? For most of modern history, geologists could say little more about why mountains grew than the obvious: there were forces acting inside the Earth that caused mountains to rise. But what were those forces? And why did they act in some places of the planet and not at others? When the theory of plate tectonics was proposed, our concept of how the Earth worked experienced a momentous shift. As the Andes continue to rise, the Atlantic Ocean steadily widens, and Honolulu creeps ever closer to Tokyo, this seemingly imperceptible creep of the Earth is revealed in the landscape all around us. But tectonics cannot—and do not—explain everything about the wonders of the North American landscape. What about the Black Hills? Or the walls of chalk that stand amongst the rolling hills of west Kansas? Or the fact that the states of Washington and Oregon are slowly rotating clockwise, and there a diamond mine in Arizona? It all points to the geologic secrets hidden inside the 2-billion-year-old-continental masses. A whopping ten times older than the rocky floors of the ocean, continents hold the clues to the long history of our planet. With a sprightly narrative that vividly brings this science to life, John Dvorak's How the Mountains Grew will fill readers with a newfound appreciation for the wonders of the land we live on.


Book Synopsis How the Mountains Grew by : John Dvorak

Download or read book How the Mountains Grew written by John Dvorak and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2021-08-03 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The incredible story of the creation of a continent—our continent— from the acclaimed author of The Last Volcano and Mask of the Sun. The immense scale of geologic time is difficult to comprehend. Our lives—and the entirety of human history—are mere nanoseconds on this timescale. Yet we hugely influenced by the land we live on. From shales and fossil fuels, from lake beds to soil composition, from elevation to fault lines, what could be more relevant that the history of the ground beneath our feet? For most of modern history, geologists could say little more about why mountains grew than the obvious: there were forces acting inside the Earth that caused mountains to rise. But what were those forces? And why did they act in some places of the planet and not at others? When the theory of plate tectonics was proposed, our concept of how the Earth worked experienced a momentous shift. As the Andes continue to rise, the Atlantic Ocean steadily widens, and Honolulu creeps ever closer to Tokyo, this seemingly imperceptible creep of the Earth is revealed in the landscape all around us. But tectonics cannot—and do not—explain everything about the wonders of the North American landscape. What about the Black Hills? Or the walls of chalk that stand amongst the rolling hills of west Kansas? Or the fact that the states of Washington and Oregon are slowly rotating clockwise, and there a diamond mine in Arizona? It all points to the geologic secrets hidden inside the 2-billion-year-old-continental masses. A whopping ten times older than the rocky floors of the ocean, continents hold the clues to the long history of our planet. With a sprightly narrative that vividly brings this science to life, John Dvorak's How the Mountains Grew will fill readers with a newfound appreciation for the wonders of the land we live on.

Neutral-atom Astronomy: Plasma Diagnostics From The Aurora To The Interstellar Medium

Neutral-atom Astronomy: Plasma Diagnostics From The Aurora To The Interstellar Medium

Author: Ke Chiang Hsieh

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2022-05-20

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 9813279214

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Astronomy has been associated with the detection of electromagnetic waves or photons from within and beyond the solar system, ranging from Radio to Gamma-ray Astronomy. Particle Astrophysics, including Neutrino and Dark-Matter Astrophysics today, started with the discovery of cosmic rays in 1911. The Space Age expanded particle observations to in-situ studies of lower energy electrons and ions with a variety of charge states in space plasmas traversed by spacecraft. Remote observation of space plasmas became possible only after the discovery of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) in space in 1950.This book is a primer for those who wish to learn more about the origins of ENAs, related detection techniques, and how ENA images and spectra can be used to study space plasmas beyond the reach of spacecraft. It tells a comprehensive story from the first encounters with ENAs in the Earth's magnetosphere to Neutral-Atom Astronomy of the edge of the heliosphere and the interstellar medium. This story includes how ion mass spectrographs evolved into ENA imagers, overcoming the technical challenges, how to extract information from ENA data, and a variety of diagnostic applications on the magnetosphere, interplanetary space, other solar-system objects, the heliospheric boundary, the local interstellar medium, and a glimpse into the future of Neutral-Atom Astronomy.The authors hope to inform and inspire readers to further enrich this field of study.


Book Synopsis Neutral-atom Astronomy: Plasma Diagnostics From The Aurora To The Interstellar Medium by : Ke Chiang Hsieh

Download or read book Neutral-atom Astronomy: Plasma Diagnostics From The Aurora To The Interstellar Medium written by Ke Chiang Hsieh and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2022-05-20 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Astronomy has been associated with the detection of electromagnetic waves or photons from within and beyond the solar system, ranging from Radio to Gamma-ray Astronomy. Particle Astrophysics, including Neutrino and Dark-Matter Astrophysics today, started with the discovery of cosmic rays in 1911. The Space Age expanded particle observations to in-situ studies of lower energy electrons and ions with a variety of charge states in space plasmas traversed by spacecraft. Remote observation of space plasmas became possible only after the discovery of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) in space in 1950.This book is a primer for those who wish to learn more about the origins of ENAs, related detection techniques, and how ENA images and spectra can be used to study space plasmas beyond the reach of spacecraft. It tells a comprehensive story from the first encounters with ENAs in the Earth's magnetosphere to Neutral-Atom Astronomy of the edge of the heliosphere and the interstellar medium. This story includes how ion mass spectrographs evolved into ENA imagers, overcoming the technical challenges, how to extract information from ENA data, and a variety of diagnostic applications on the magnetosphere, interplanetary space, other solar-system objects, the heliospheric boundary, the local interstellar medium, and a glimpse into the future of Neutral-Atom Astronomy.The authors hope to inform and inspire readers to further enrich this field of study.

Encyclopedia of the Solar System

Encyclopedia of the Solar System

Author: Lucy-Ann McFadden

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2006-12-18

Total Pages: 987

ISBN-13: 0080474985

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Long before Galileo published his discoveries about Jupiter, lunar craters, and the Milky Way in the Starry Messenger in 1610, people were fascinated with the planets and stars around them. That interest continues today, and scientists are making new discoveries at an astounding rate. Ancient lake beds on Mars, robotic spacecraft missions, and new definitions of planets now dominate the news. How can you take it all in? Start with the new Encyclopedia of the Solar System, Second Edition. This self-contained reference follows the trail blazed by the bestselling first edition. It provides a framework for understanding the origin and evolution of the solar system, historical discoveries, and details about planetary bodies and how they interact—and has jumped light years ahead in terms of new information and visual impact. Offering more than 50% new material, the Encyclopedia includes the latest explorations and observations, hundreds of new color digital images and illustrations, and more than 1,000 pages. It stands alone as the definitive work in this field, and will serve as a modern messenger of scientific discovery and provide a look into the future of our solar system. · Forty-seven chapters from 75+ eminent authors review fundamental topics as well as new models, theories, and discussions · Each entry is detailed and scientifically rigorous, yet accessible to undergraduate students and amateur astronomers · More than 700 full-color digital images and diagrams from current space missions and observatories amplify the chapters · Thematic chapters provide up-to-date coverage, including a discussion on the new International Astronomical Union (IAU) vote on the definition of a planet · Information is easily accessible with numerous cross-references and a full glossary and index


Book Synopsis Encyclopedia of the Solar System by : Lucy-Ann McFadden

Download or read book Encyclopedia of the Solar System written by Lucy-Ann McFadden and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2006-12-18 with total page 987 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Long before Galileo published his discoveries about Jupiter, lunar craters, and the Milky Way in the Starry Messenger in 1610, people were fascinated with the planets and stars around them. That interest continues today, and scientists are making new discoveries at an astounding rate. Ancient lake beds on Mars, robotic spacecraft missions, and new definitions of planets now dominate the news. How can you take it all in? Start with the new Encyclopedia of the Solar System, Second Edition. This self-contained reference follows the trail blazed by the bestselling first edition. It provides a framework for understanding the origin and evolution of the solar system, historical discoveries, and details about planetary bodies and how they interact—and has jumped light years ahead in terms of new information and visual impact. Offering more than 50% new material, the Encyclopedia includes the latest explorations and observations, hundreds of new color digital images and illustrations, and more than 1,000 pages. It stands alone as the definitive work in this field, and will serve as a modern messenger of scientific discovery and provide a look into the future of our solar system. · Forty-seven chapters from 75+ eminent authors review fundamental topics as well as new models, theories, and discussions · Each entry is detailed and scientifically rigorous, yet accessible to undergraduate students and amateur astronomers · More than 700 full-color digital images and diagrams from current space missions and observatories amplify the chapters · Thematic chapters provide up-to-date coverage, including a discussion on the new International Astronomical Union (IAU) vote on the definition of a planet · Information is easily accessible with numerous cross-references and a full glossary and index

Airless Bodies of the Inner Solar System

Airless Bodies of the Inner Solar System

Author: Jennifer Grier

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2018-10-15

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 0128092823

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Airless Bodies of the Inner Solar System: Understanding the Process Affecting Rocky, Airless Surfaces focuses on the airless, rocky bodies in the inner solar system as a host unto themselves, with a unique set of processes that require a specific set of investigative techniques. The book allows readers to understand both the basic and advanced concepts necessary to understand and employ that information. Topics covered past exploration of these surfaces, changes with time, space weathering, impact cratering, creation and evolution of regolith and soils, comparison of sample and remote sensing data, dust characterization, surface composition and thoughts for future exploration. Together these authors represent the unique combination of skills and experience required to produce an excellent book on the subject of the surfaces of airless, rocky bodies in the solar system, which will be useful both for graduate students and for working scientists. Written by experts with a unique combination of skills and experience on the subject of the surfaces of airless, rocky bodies in the solar system Addresses the unique nature of airless bodies not done in any other reference Organized into subjects that can be easily translated into classroom lecture points Represents topics that scientists will want to pinpoint and browse


Book Synopsis Airless Bodies of the Inner Solar System by : Jennifer Grier

Download or read book Airless Bodies of the Inner Solar System written by Jennifer Grier and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2018-10-15 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Airless Bodies of the Inner Solar System: Understanding the Process Affecting Rocky, Airless Surfaces focuses on the airless, rocky bodies in the inner solar system as a host unto themselves, with a unique set of processes that require a specific set of investigative techniques. The book allows readers to understand both the basic and advanced concepts necessary to understand and employ that information. Topics covered past exploration of these surfaces, changes with time, space weathering, impact cratering, creation and evolution of regolith and soils, comparison of sample and remote sensing data, dust characterization, surface composition and thoughts for future exploration. Together these authors represent the unique combination of skills and experience required to produce an excellent book on the subject of the surfaces of airless, rocky bodies in the solar system, which will be useful both for graduate students and for working scientists. Written by experts with a unique combination of skills and experience on the subject of the surfaces of airless, rocky bodies in the solar system Addresses the unique nature of airless bodies not done in any other reference Organized into subjects that can be easily translated into classroom lecture points Represents topics that scientists will want to pinpoint and browse

Protostars and Planets VI

Protostars and Planets VI

Author: Henrik Beuther

Publisher: University of Arizona Press

Published: 2014-12-18

Total Pages: 945

ISBN-13: 0816531242

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Proceedings of a conference held in Heidelberg, Germany, July 15-20, 2013.


Book Synopsis Protostars and Planets VI by : Henrik Beuther

Download or read book Protostars and Planets VI written by Henrik Beuther and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2014-12-18 with total page 945 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Proceedings of a conference held in Heidelberg, Germany, July 15-20, 2013.

Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond

Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond

Author: Robin George Andrews

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Published: 2021-11-02

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 0393542076

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An exhilarating, time-traveling journey to the solar system’s strangest and most awe-inspiring volcanoes. Volcanoes are capable of acts of pyrotechnical prowess verging on magic: they spout black magma more fluid than water, create shimmering cities of glass at the bottom of the ocean and frozen lakes of lava on the moon, and can even tip entire planets over. Between lava that melts and re-forms the landscape, and noxious volcanic gases that poison the atmosphere, volcanoes have threatened life on Earth countless times in our planet’s history. Yet despite their reputation for destruction, volcanoes are inseparable from the creation of our planet. A lively and utterly fascinating guide to these geologic wonders, Super Volcanoes revels in the incomparable power of volcanic eruptions past and present, Earthbound and otherwise—and recounts the daring and sometimes death-defying careers of the scientists who study them. Science journalist and volcanologist Robin George Andrews explores how these eruptions reveal secrets about the worlds to which they belong, describing the stunning ways in which volcanoes can sculpt the sea, land, and sky, and even influence the machinery that makes or breaks the existence of life. Walking us through the mechanics of some of the most infamous eruptions on Earth, Andrews outlines what we know about how volcanoes form, erupt, and evolve, as well as what scientists are still trying to puzzle out. How can we better predict when a deadly eruption will occur—and protect communities in the danger zone? Is Earth’s system of plate tectonics, unique in the solar system, the best way to forge a planet that supports life? And if life can survive and even thrive in Earth’s extreme volcanic environments—superhot, superacidic, and supersaline surroundings previously thought to be completely inhospitable—where else in the universe might we find it? Traveling from Hawai‘i, Yellowstone, Tanzania, and the ocean floor to the moon, Venus, and Mars, Andrews illuminates the cutting-edge discoveries and lingering scientific mysteries surrounding these phenomenal forces of nature.


Book Synopsis Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond by : Robin George Andrews

Download or read book Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond written by Robin George Andrews and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2021-11-02 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exhilarating, time-traveling journey to the solar system’s strangest and most awe-inspiring volcanoes. Volcanoes are capable of acts of pyrotechnical prowess verging on magic: they spout black magma more fluid than water, create shimmering cities of glass at the bottom of the ocean and frozen lakes of lava on the moon, and can even tip entire planets over. Between lava that melts and re-forms the landscape, and noxious volcanic gases that poison the atmosphere, volcanoes have threatened life on Earth countless times in our planet’s history. Yet despite their reputation for destruction, volcanoes are inseparable from the creation of our planet. A lively and utterly fascinating guide to these geologic wonders, Super Volcanoes revels in the incomparable power of volcanic eruptions past and present, Earthbound and otherwise—and recounts the daring and sometimes death-defying careers of the scientists who study them. Science journalist and volcanologist Robin George Andrews explores how these eruptions reveal secrets about the worlds to which they belong, describing the stunning ways in which volcanoes can sculpt the sea, land, and sky, and even influence the machinery that makes or breaks the existence of life. Walking us through the mechanics of some of the most infamous eruptions on Earth, Andrews outlines what we know about how volcanoes form, erupt, and evolve, as well as what scientists are still trying to puzzle out. How can we better predict when a deadly eruption will occur—and protect communities in the danger zone? Is Earth’s system of plate tectonics, unique in the solar system, the best way to forge a planet that supports life? And if life can survive and even thrive in Earth’s extreme volcanic environments—superhot, superacidic, and supersaline surroundings previously thought to be completely inhospitable—where else in the universe might we find it? Traveling from Hawai‘i, Yellowstone, Tanzania, and the ocean floor to the moon, Venus, and Mars, Andrews illuminates the cutting-edge discoveries and lingering scientific mysteries surrounding these phenomenal forces of nature.