SCIENCE, STORY AND THE DISCOVERY OF SELF
SCIENCE, STORY AND THE DISCOVERY OF SELF
JACOB BERKOWITZ
Science, Story, and Discovery of Self
THE STARDUST REVOLUTION
“Read it and you’ll never look at the night sky, or yourself, the same way again.”
--Caleb Scharf, Director of Astrobiology
Columbia University
Revised and Updated 2022 Second Edition
The Stardust Revolution tells the story of a scientific revolution in the making. Today, stardust science is revealing an amazing new part of what it means to be human, the story of our origin in the stars.
Twentieth-century astronomy was dominated by astrophysics, the search for the physical origins and structure of the universe. Now a new breed of scientists—astrobiologists and astrochemists—are taking the study of life into the space age. Astrobiologists study the origins, evolution and distribution of life, not just on Earth, but in the universe. These stardust scientists aren’t probing the universe’s physical structure, but rather its biological nature.
Evolutionary theory is entering the space age.
Best Book 2012
One Minute Astronomer
​"Berkowitz gracefully chronicles the work and passion of physicists, chemists, and other 'stardust scientists' who probe the universe for signs of life."
-Scientific American
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“Mind blowing and very well written. Prepare to be astonished.”
"A splendid book, beautifully written and scientifically accurate."
Carl Sagan Center for
Study of Life in the Universe
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“Berkowitz expertly weaves together various threads to create a bigger story about our changing understanding regarding the origins of life here and elsewhere in the universe.”
--Jeff Foust, Editor,
The Space Review
JURASSIC POOP
2007 WINNER, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS AWARD
Left by an animal long ago, this durable doo-doo survived the long journey through the ages. It started out stinky, but now it’s frozen, dried or turned to rock. To a scientist, it’s anything but gross — it’s a priceless artifact that can help piece together the puzzle of ancient life.
Funny and informative, Jurassic Poop, is flush with amazing facts, stories and activities. Learn how to spot ancient poop impostors. Meet dung detectives getting to the bottom of history’s hind-end mysteries. Find out how poop gets preserved and discover what it can tell us about dinosaurs, humans and many other animals from long ago. So hold your nose and take a journey back in time to see what tales ancient poop has to tell.
"Jurassic Poop works brilliantly. First there's the potty angle....backed up with sound science and careful descriptions...Any young reader will love Jurassic Poop. "
---Quill and Quire
“All scatological kidding aside, this book is a very good overview of what we know about coprolites. The book is an excellent resource for educators at all levels...”
--Professor Reed Wicander,
American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologist
The Korean Edition of
Jurassic Poop