This guide provides a set of resources for advanced undergraduate research in Astrobiology at the Cabot Science Library. This list is not intended to be exhaustive or comprehensive. Cabot Library holds the general science collections for the university; additional resources are available at the John G. Wolbach Library (Astronomy & Astrophysics). Please consult the HOLLIS catalog and the E-Research @ Harvard site for all of Harvard’s holdings.
Encyclopedias and Selected Books
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics ; Online at: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:enastast
Extraterrestrial Encyclopedia: An Alphabetical Reference to All Life in the Universe / Darling, D. ;
Cabot REF QB54 .D365 2000
Selected Books
In the Cabot Science Library, books on astrobiology are generally located in the call numbers QH325 – QH327. Books on extraterrestrial life are generally located at QB54.Alien Life: The Search for Extraterrestrials and Beyond / Parker, B.R. ; Cabot QB54 .P33 1998
Astrobiology: The Quest for the Conditions of Life / Horneck, G. et al. ; Cabot QH325 .A78 2002
Cosmic Company: The Search for Life in the Universe / Shostak, S. & Barnett, A. ; Widener WID-LC QB54 .S55 2003x
Cosmic Explorers: Scientific Remote Viewing, Extraterrestrials, and a Message for Mankind / Brown, C. ; Widener WID-LC QB54 .B758 1999
Disturbing the Solar System: Impacts, Close Encounters, and Coming Attractions / Rubin, A.E. ; Cabot QB339 .R84 2002
Evolving the Alien: The Science of Extraterresrial Life / Cohen, J.S. ; Cabot QB54 .C64 2002
Faint Echoes, Distant Stars: The Science and Politics of Finding Life beyond Earth / Bova, B. ; Cabot QB54 .B665 2004
An Introduction to Astrobiology / edited by Iain Gilmour and Mark A. Sephton ; Cabot QH327 .I57 2004
Life and Death of Planet Earth: How the New Science of Astrobiology Charts the Ultimate Fate of Our World /
Ward, P.D. & Brownlee, D. ; Cabot QB638.8 .W37 2002
Life Everywhere: The Maverick Science of Astrobiology / Darling, D. ; Cabot QH327 .D37 2001
Life in the Universe / Bennett, J. et al. ; Cabot QH327 B45 2003
Life on Other Worlds: The 20th-century Extraterrestrial Life Debate / Dick, S.J. ; Cabot QB641 .D52 1998
Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life / Grinspoon, D. ; Cabot QB54 .G74 2003
The New Science of Astrobiology / Chela Flores, J. ; Cabot QH327 .C54 2001
Perfect Planet, Clever Species: How Unique Are We? / Burger, W.C. ; Cabot GN281.4 .B87 2003
Planetary Dreams: The Quest to Discover Life Beyond Earth / Shapiro, R. ; Cabot QB54 .S46 1999
Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe / Ward, P.D. & Brownlee, D. ; Cabot QB54 .W336 2000
The Science of Aliens / Pickover, C. ; Cabot QB54 .P53 1998
The Search for Life in the Universe / Goldsmith, D. ; Cabot QB54 .G58 2001
The Search for Life on Other Planets / Jakosky, B. ; Wolbach QB54 .J25 1998
Space Life Sciences: Steps Towards Origin(s) of Life / Bernstein, M.P. ; Wolbach QB495 A38 v.33, no.1
Strangers in the Night: A Brief History of Life on Other Worlds / Fisher, D.E. & Fisher, M.J. ; Cabot QH325 .F47 1998
Worlds without End: The Historic Search for Extraterrestrial Life / Hennessey, R.A.S. ; Widener WID-LC QB54 .H46 1999
Journals and Databases for Journal Articles
Journals
Cabot Science Library has a large collection of current journals on the main floor of the library. We have couches and arm chairs available for comfortable browsing of the collection. Older issues can be found in the basement. For access to electronic copies of journals, look up the journal’s title in the HOLLIS catalog, where an internet link will be available if Harvard owns a subscription. Or you may use the E-Journals list available through the E-Research @ Harvard site. To locate individual articles within the journals, use one of the databases listed in this guide (individual articles are not available in the catalog or the e-journal list).
Astrobiology (2001-) Online-only journal available at: http://www.liebertonline.com.ezp1.harvard.edu/loi/as
Databases for Journal Articles
Exobiology is a search term useful in several databases for finding journal articles on astrobiology. Exobiology is the science that studies evolutionary biology, including the origin and evolution of the major elements required for life, their processing in the interstellar medium and in protostellar systems. This field also includes the study of chemical evolution and the subsequent interactions between evolving biota and planetary evolution, as well as the field of biology that deals with the study of extraterrestrial life.Aerospace + High Technology (1962-)
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:aerodata covers research in aeronautics, astronautics, and space sciences. It also covers technology development and applications in complementary fields of chemistry, geosciences, physics, communications, and electronics. It provides coverage reports issued by NASA, other U.S. government agencies, international institutions, universities, and private firms.
SEARCH TIP: using the navigational buttons, go to Advanced Search, choose Descriptors (DE=) from the pull-down menu, and enter the term exobiology.
Applied Science and Technology Abstracts (1983-)
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:apscitec indexes articles, product evaluations, and book reviews in English-language periodicals. Subjects covered include all fields of engineering, aeronautics, chemistry, computer technology and applications, earth sciences, energy and environment, mathematics, metallurgy, and physics. WAST also covers industries such as construction, materials, robotics, telecommunications, and transportation.
SEARCH TIP: enter “life on other planets” in the search box, and choose Subject(s) from the pull-down menu.
BIOSIS Previews (Biological Abstracts) (1969-)
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:biosisp1 is a database for life science research covering traditional areas of biology and zoology as well as biomedical fields, agriculture, pharmacology and ecology.
SEARCH TIP: search using the Major Concept exobiology: in the main search page, enter the keyword exobiology with the option “Map Term to Subject Heading” checked.
PubMed (MEDLINE) (1950-)
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:pubmedpi is the National Library of Medicine’s free access to MEDLINE and PreMEDLINE (preliminary citations and abstracts before they appear in MEDLINE). MEDLINE covers the international literature on beiomedicine, including the allied health fields and the biological and physical sciences, huamnities, and information science as they relate to medicine and health care.
SEARCH TIP: use the Medical Subject Heading exobiology, entering the following search string: exobiology [MESH].
Citation Indexes / Web of Science (1945-)
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:scicitin Science Citation Index is a multidisciplinary database, with searchable author abstracts, covering the journal literature of the sciences. Because the information stored about each article includes the article's cited reference list (bibliography), you can search for articles that cite a known author or work.
SEARCH TIP: search using related topical keywords, such as astrobiology OR exobiology OR extraterrestrial life.