Changes: To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek

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To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek is a scientific reference work in the vein of The Physics of Star Trek.

Summary

From the hardcover release: How likely are silicon-based life forms such as the Horta?; Can the Holodoc really wield a laser scalpel?; Is a universal translator possible?; For thirty years, the Star Trek series, movies, and books have speculated as much about the nature and meaning of life as they have about inorganic concepts such as warp speed, time travel, and black holes. In fact, the original mission of the starship Enterprise was to seek out new life and new civilizations in its quest to answer the most tantalizing question of all time: Are we alone in the universe?

If Star Trek has been about the search for life, To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek is about understanding these discoveries as we encounter them with the crews of the Enterprise, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine. In this book, Harvard biologist Athena Andreadis takes a lively, thought-provoking look at Star Trek's approach to the science of human, humanoid, and other life forms, exploring what biological principles are probable or possible on the original show and the three series and nine movies that have followed.

This engaging, deeply informative book makes everyone an armchair expert on the difference between science and science fiction on Star Trek, with keen observations into the series' complex worlds of physiology, psychology, and sociology. For example, the free interbreeding of humanoids makes for great plots, but a host of biological problems: Vulcans bleed green, Klingons purple, and humans red, which means none of them share the same oxygen carrier in the bloodstream (which means no hybrid, and thus no Spock). A shape-shifter with a liquid base, like Security Chief Odo, could never fall in love with a "solid" like Major Kira Nerys – it is the equivalent to a human loving a turnip. Androids like Data are possible in our future, though the creation of substitute bodies in the holodeck is pure fantasy. The joined Trills are a curious blend of symbiosis and parasitism, raising interesting questions as to how the two beings share consciousness.

This absorbing, illuminating book, rich in scientific detail and full of fascinating references to literature, film, and television, pays tribute to a show that has profoundly shaped the way we understand and view science.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

From the paperback release: Is the Vulcan suppression of emotion biologically viable?; What terrestrial life-form does the Borg most closely resemble?; Where does consciousness go when a crew member of the Enterprise enters the transporter?

If Star Trek has been about the search for life, To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek is about understanding these discoveries as we encounter them with the crews of the Enterprise, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine. Harvard biologist Athena Andreadis takes a lively, thought-provoking look at Star Trek's approach to the science of human, humanoid, and other life-forms, exploring what biological principles are probable or possible on the original show and the three series and nine movies that have followed.

This absorbing, illuminating book makes everyone an armchair expert on the difference between science and science fiction on Star Trek, with keen observations into the series' complex worlds of physiology, psychology, and sociology. Its wealth of scientific detail and cultural insight pays tribute to a show that has profoundly shaped the way we understand and view science.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Background information

Cover gallery

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{realworld}}
-{| class="wiki-sidebar"
+{{Sidebar reference book|
-|-
-| colspan="2"|[[Image:To Seek Out New Life.jpg|200px]]
+| image             = To Seek Out New Life 2.jpg
+| imagecap          = Paperback cover
-|-
+| Author            = [[Athena Andreadis]]
-| class="odd" | Author(s):
+| Publisher         = [[Crown Publishing Group]] (hardback)<br />[[Three Rivers Press]] (paperback)
-| class="even" | [[Athena Andreadis]]
+| Published         = {{d|31|March|1998}} (hardback)<br />{{d|12|July|1999}} (paperback)
-|-
+| Pages             = 273 (hardback)<br />288 (paperback)
-| class="odd" | Pages:
+| ISBN              = 0609603299 (hardback)<br />ISBN 0609804219 (paperback)
-| class="even" | 273
+}}
-|-
+'''''To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek''''' is a scientific reference work in the vein of ''[[The Physics of Star Trek]]''.
-| class="odd" | Publisher:
-| class="even" | [[Crown]]
-|-
-| class="odd" | Reference #:
-| class="even" | ISBN 0609603299
-|}
-==Reviews==
-;From Library Journal: Harvard neurologist [[Athena Andreadis|Andreadis]] validates here what some might describe as misspent youth: an analysis of the life science of the various '''Star Trek''' television series and films. For Trekkers, this book is nirvana. For the rest of us, it is surprisingly interesting, opinionated, and funny. From disquisitions on artificial limbs to a timely discussion on cloning, readers will learn a lot more biology than they may suspect is possible. Not a scholarly tome, this screams out "Birthday Gift!" for dedicated sf fans.
+== Summary ==
+;From the hardcover release
+:''How likely are silicon-based life forms such as the [[Horta]]?''
+:''Can the Holodoc really wield a [[laser scalpel]]?''
+:''Is a [[universal translator]] possible?''
+:''For thirty years, the ''Star Trek'' series, movies, and books have speculated as much about the nature and meaning of life as they have about inorganic concepts such as warp speed, time travel, and black holes. In fact, the original mission of the starship ''Enterprise'' was to seek out new life and new civilizations in its quest to answer the most tantalizing question of all time: Are we alone in the universe?''
+:''If ''Star Trek'' has been about the search for life, ''To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek'' is about understanding these discoveries as we encounter them with the crews of the ''Enterprise'', ''Voyager'', and ''Deep Space Nine''. In this book, Harvard biologist Athena Andreadis takes a lively, thought-provoking look at ''Star Trek''{{'}}s approach to the science of human, humanoid, and other life forms, exploring what biological principles are probable or possible on the original show and the three series and nine movies that have followed.''
-;From Kirkus Reviews: A Harvard biologist explains the real science behind the popular sci-fi TV show. With its huge cast of alien life-forms (some with powers and senses no human can match), '''Star Trek''' would appear to flout the most basic characteristics of life as we know it. But, as Andreadis points out, no matter how exotic the cast, certain Earth-based assumptions remain valid. Silicon may be able to substitute for carbon on some distant planet, but organisms based on it will be subject to gravity and electromagnetism, as well as having some form of genetic code to permit continuity of form and function as the beings reproduce. Sensory organs will still be necessary to receive information from the environment. In addition, the Trek universe is populated by a variety of machine intelligences ranging from the android [[Data|Lt. Commander Data]] to sentient computer viruses. Andreadis uses these various fictional examples (and others drawn from such films as Bladerunner and print science fiction) to explain the current state of biological knowledge. This takes her into subjects ranging from the nature of immortality or telepathy to the problems of universal translating machinesall of which throw considerable light on the dark corners of biology. She notes the general sameness and blandness of the various cultures encountered by the [[Enterprise]] and its crewgenerally humanoid, with far less social variation than a five-year voyage on [[Earth]] would be likely to uncoverbut recognizes that by Hollywood standards, this is adventurous stuff. And while she pokes fun at other Hollywood conventions, such as the "Snugglability Quotient" alien Good Guys tend to be cute and fuzzy while Bad Guys look like refugees from the Black Lagoonher affection for the material is always clear. And she deftly maintains the effective blend of entertainment and instruction that characterized [[The Physics of Star Trek]] (not reviewed). An entertaining book that deserves an audience well beyond sci-fi fandom.
+:''This engaging, deeply informative book makes everyone an armchair expert on the difference between science and science fiction on ''Star Trek'', with keen observations into the series' complex worlds of physiology, psychology, and sociology. For example, the free interbreeding of humanoids makes for great plots, but a host of biological problems: [[Vulcan]]s bleed green, [[Klingon]]s purple, and [[human]]s red, which means none of them share the same oxygen carrier in the bloodstream (which means no hybrid, and thus no [[Spock]]). A shape-shifter with a liquid base, like Security Chief [[Odo]], could never fall in love with a "solid" like Major [[Kira Nerys]] &ndash; it is the equivalent to a human loving a turnip. [[Android]]s like [[Data]] are possible in our future, though the creation of substitute bodies in the [[holodeck]] is pure fantasy. The joined [[Trill]]s are a curious blend of symbiosis and parasitism, raising interesting questions as to how the two beings share consciousness.''
-==Contents==
+:''This absorbing, illuminating book, rich in scientific detail and full of fascinating references to literature, film, and television, pays tribute to a show that has profoundly shaped the way we understand and view science.''
+{{review}}
+;From the paperback release
+:''Is the Vulcan suppression of emotion biologically viable?''
+:''What terrestrial life-form does the [[Borg]] most closely resemble?''
+:''Where does consciousness go when a crew member of the ''Enterprise'' enters the transporter?''
+:''If ''Star Trek'' has been about the search for life, ''To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek'' is about understanding these discoveries as we encounter them with the crews of the ''Enterprise'', ''Voyager'', and ''Deep Space Nine''. Harvard biologist Athena Andreadis takes a lively, thought-provoking look at ''Star Trek''{{'}}s approach to the science of human, humanoid, and other life-forms, exploring what biological principles are probable or possible on the original show and the three series and nine movies that have followed.''
+:''This absorbing, illuminating book makes everyone an armchair expert on the difference between science and science fiction on ''Star Trek'', with keen observations into the series' complex worlds of physiology, psychology, and sociology. Its wealth of scientific detail and cultural insight pays tribute to a show that has profoundly shaped the way we understand and view science.''
+{{review}}
+== Background information ==
+=== See also ===
+*''[[Life Signs: The Biology of Star Trek]]''
+=== Cover gallery ===
+<gallery>
+File:To Seek Out New Life.jpg|Alternate cover
+</gallery>
 [[Category:Reference books]]