Louis Neal Irwin – författare

This text discusses a broad range of possible environments where alien life might evolve in our universe. It also uses current knowledge of chemistry, energy and evolutionary tendencies to consider possible life forms ranging from the familiar to the exotic.

How do we store information in the brain? Is memory a thing in a place, like a specific molecule in a particular cell? Or does learning require a process in a population, like neurons firing in a specific pattern for each experience? This combination of memoir and history tells the story of how the mechanisms of memory were gradually revealed, through biographical vignettes of the scientists who set out to solve the riddle of memory, including the author's own efforts as he was coming of age as a scientist. It shows how individual goals intertwine with the technologies at hand to push scientific knowledge forward, often erratically, and always in the context of social forces and private ups and downs. Not only a compelling personal story with the war in Vietnam, civil rights movement, and downfall of two presidents as backdrop, this is a lucid explanation of brain function for the nonscientist and valuable contribution to the history of science in the decades that saw neuroscience join molecular biology as the marquee biomedical accomplishments of the twentieth century

This book chronicles the apparent discovery of "e;memory molecules"e; in 1965, the loss of credibility that plagued those findings, and the subsequent triumphant discovery of the neuroactive peptides, including endorphins. The story is told through a series of biographical vignettes and the author s own experiences that unfolded from the plains of West Texas, through Kansas, Houston, New York, Detroit, and Boston. This seminal episode in the early history of neuroscience flows smoothly for the lay reader as an engaging story of the clash between personalities, conventional wisdom, and unconventional explanations. The book is well documented for the scientist and historian, providing a definitive account of early attempts to understand memory at the molecular level.

The Evolutionary Imperative provides a unifying perspective on the evolution of the universe in all its physical and biological detail, with a call to action for redirecting the evolutionary trajectory of human society. The book's thesis is that change is inevitable, driven by resolution of energy gradients through the Principle of Least Action and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This energy dissipation model of the evolutionary imperative accounts for all the organization of matter and energy that has ever come about, and offers a transcendent view of the world, and the place and fate of the human species within it.

The Evolutionary Imperative provides a unifying perspective on the evolution of the universe in all its physical and biological detail, with a call to action for redirecting the evolutionary trajectory of human society in a way that will preserve the planet and improve the human condition. The book’s thesis is that the inevitability of change is driven by resolution of energy gradients through the operation of two fundamental laws of nature: the Principle of Least Action and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This energy dissipation model of the evolutionary imperative accounts for all the organization of matter and energy that has ever come about; the diversity of everything from rocks and rivers to microbes and macro-organisms; the behavior of animals, the elements of culture, the structure of societies, the operation of economic systems, and the moral codes we live by. The reality of this flowing tapestry of energy and information through the cosmos, the earth, and the life of all living things offers a transcendent view of the world, and the place and fate of the human species within it. But abetted by technology in human hands, the accelerated pace of change has begun to degrade the environment to an unsustainable degree, and has led to economic and social inequities that threaten social stability. A possible solution to the impending catastrophe is that humans switch from energy consumption to information processing. While programed for energy dissipation by our biological heritage, we are capable of converting to the processing of information as our ultimate calling. The book is written in straightforward language at the undergraduate collegiate level. While providing novel scientific insights and ample detail, its broad strokes and basic message can be appreciated without advanced training in science. About the Authors: Charles H. M. Beck - Born in Chile but raised in Ontario, Canada, Dr. Beck received a bachelor''s and master''s degree from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University. His postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania was followed by an academic career from Assistant Professor through Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta, where he was honored with a Rutherford Award for Teaching. He has published over 40 scientific papers, mainly in the areas of psychopharmacology and operant conditioning. In 1995, he developed and supervised the Faculty of Science Department of Psychology paid internship program, giving undergraduates a year of work and research experience in the community. An accomplished outdoorsman and artist, he has written broadly about science, society, and the human condition. Louis Neal Irwin - Born and raised in Texas, Dr. Irwin earned a bachelor''s degree in chemistry at Texas Tech University, and a PhD in biochemistry & physiology at the University of Kansas. He has held teaching and research positions at the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Columbia University, the Wayne State University School of Medicine, the Neurosciences Research Program of M.I.T., Simmons College, and the University of Texas at El Paso, where he is Professor Emeritus. He has published over 70 research papers and reviews in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and astrobiology, has authored a neuroscience memoir (Scotophobin), and co-authored two books in astrobiology (Life in the Universe and Cosmic Biology). He also writes periodically on issues of public policy, science, and society.

Energy, chemistry, solvents, and habitats - the basic elements of living systems - define the opportunities and limitations for life on other worlds. This class-tested text examines each of these parameters in crucial depth and makes the argument that life forms we would recognize may be more common in our solar system than many assume. It also considers, however, exotic forms of life that would not have to rely on carbon as basic chemical element, solar energy as a main energy source, or water as primary solvent. Finally the question of detecting bio- and geosignature of such life forms is discussed, ranging from Earth environments to deep space. While speculative considerations in this emerging field of science cannot be avoided, the authors have tried to present their study with the breadth and seriousness that a scientific approach to this issue requires. They seek an operational definition of life and investigate the realm of possibilities that nature offers to realize this very special state of matter and avoid scientific jargon wherever possible to make this intrinsically interdisciplinary subject understandable to a broad range of readers.The second edition thoroughly updates this text in view of the rapid progress in the field and a substantial amount of new material has been added, in particular sections and chapters on adaptation to extreme environments, the future and fate of living systems, life detection concepts based on the thorough analysis of the Viking missions and the issue around the meteorite ALH 84001, and - last but not least - recommendations for the optimization of future space exploration missions.From the reviews of the first edition:"[...] I know of no other book that reassesses the fundamentals of astrobiology in such way. This book is a tacit lesson in open-mindedness tempered with thorough scientific analysis. This is a very important book for all professional astrobiologists." A Ellery, International Journal of Astrobiology, 6 (2007) 182-183