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2008 03 00 New Scientist - Vol 197 No 2649 - Brooks
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Title: New Scientist Issue: 2647 Volume: 197 Date: 29 March 2008 Publisher: New Scientist Country: UK Language: English Price: £15.95/$26.95 Cover Headline: OH MY GOD, WHAT IF WE FIND ALIENS?
Magazine Overview
Title: New Scientist
Issue: 2647
Volume: 197
Date: 29 March 2008
Publisher: New Scientist
Country: UK
Language: English
Price: £15.95/$26.95
Cover Headline: OH MY GOD, WHAT IF WE FIND ALIENS?
Review: Beyond UFOs by Jeffrey Bennett
This issue features a review by Michael Brooks of Jeffrey Bennett's book "Beyond UFOs," published by Princeton University Press. The book is described as a comprehensive account of the search for alien life and its implications for humanity's place in the universe. Brooks notes that Bennett, an astronomer who has worked on the textbook "Life in the Universe," has written "Beyond UFOs" to bring the public up to date on recent discoveries in cosmology.
Bennett's book highlights the vastness of the cosmos, suggesting that with as many stars as grains of sand on Earth's beaches, it is almost inconceivable that life is unique to our planet. The book covers the likely locations of alien life and the potential consequences of finding it. A central theme is Bennett's belief that a greater perspective on our cosmic place can lead to world peace, diminishing terrestrial conflicts based on geography, ethnicity, or religion.
Brooks finds Bennett's enthusiasm for science's power to foster peace admirable but occasionally "wearing." He contrasts Bennett's optimism with the more cautious views of Carl Sagan, who worried about the potential for increased pseudoscience and superstition when humanity confronts its diminished cosmic significance. However, Bennett is presented as more sympathetic to religion than Sagan, stating that "If a scientist tries to tell you that there's no room for God in our present understanding of life and evolution, he's just plain wrong."
The review acknowledges that discovering extraterrestrial life could challenge central tenets of many sacred texts and lead to significant cultural clashes. However, it reiterates Sagan's point that "our preferences do not determine what's true."
Despite these philosophical considerations, Brooks praises "Beyond UFOs" for its clarity, engaging analogies, startling imagery, and "mind-blowing illustrations." The book is recommended as an excellent primer for understanding the universe and humanity's place within it. The review specifically mentions a diagram illustrating Earth's scale within a supercluster of galaxies as a particularly impactful visual aid.
The review concludes by noting that Michael Brooks's own novel, "Entanglement," is published by Random House Australia.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The magazine consistently explores scientific advancements and their broader implications. This issue, through the review of "Beyond UFOs," delves into themes of extraterrestrial life, the vastness of the universe, the potential for scientific discovery to influence human behavior and promote peace, and the ongoing dialogue between science and religion. The editorial stance appears to be one that values rigorous scientific inquiry while also considering its philosophical and societal impacts.