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Why we may be unable to read the complete Book of Life

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The Science of Astrobiology

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 20))

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Abstract

The current incomplete understanding of the evolution of the cosmos sets a limit to astrobiology’s major aim of understanding the last two chapters of the Books of Life, namely the distribution and destiny of life in the universe. To illustrate this fundamental limitation we review briefly the present search for a complete theory of the basic forces of nature that could give us a deeper understanding of both cosmic evolution and the ultimate aims of astrobiology. This chapter should produce most rewarding reading. However, the reader should be prepared to do a reasonable amount of preparation by consulting the suggested items in the Illustrated glossary:

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Supplementary Reading

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, 586, 34014, Trieste, Italy

    Julian Chela-Flores

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  1. Julian Chela-Flores
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Correspondence to Julian Chela-Flores .

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Chela-Flores, J. (2011). Why we may be unable to read the complete Book of Life. In: The Science of Astrobiology. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 20. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1627-8_15

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