The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy

December 1, 2020
As zoologist Kershenbaum says in the introduction to this insightful work, it is inevitable that other, alien lives exist in the universe, and we can most likely, unlike the usual science fiction plot, predict what they must be like and how they might behave. Understanding how earthly life works will help us comprehend lives from other planets. By using concepts that are universal to biology, with evolution by natural selection as the main one, Kershenbaum guides the reader to a perception of the common process guiding how we came to be and the potential nature of extraterrestrial life. The author explores these concepts in chapters that examine movement, communication, intelligence, sociality, information, and language and discusses how understanding how and why a particular modus operandi came to be will aid in deducing how an alien organism might perform the same function. Several interesting chapters contrast animal versus alien, ask whether the universe is full of robots, and consider the definition of humanity. Kershenbaum enlivens his text with fascinating examples from our world and makes a strong case for the universality of life.

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December 15, 2020
If extraterrestrials exist, Darwin's theory of evolution may provide a powerful key to determining how aliens live and behave. As technologies used to explore the universe become more sophisticated, scientists are increasingly optimistic that life outside of Earth may exist. In this enjoyable and informative book, Cambridge zoologist Kershenbaum argues that because the theory of natural selection and the laws of biology are universal, they can be applied to habitats other than Earth to understand how complex life may evolve in those places. The author explains that much of evolution relates to predictable patterns of problem-solving, whether the result is propelling through water using fins, walking on two legs, or soaring through the air using wings. "Convergent evolution is not just a phenomenon restricted to life on Earth," writes Kershenbaum. "The same principles that lead birds and bats to evolve similar solutions will also lead alien birds and bats to fly." In captivating detail, the author explores how the concept of convergent evolution can be used to deduce how aliens may use language and communication, socialize, move, and develop organic and artificial intelligence. Depending on the habitat, alien life may be strikingly similar to that on Earth, or aliens may exist in a dark, wet world and communicate using electricity--just one example of how odd alien life may be even as it exists within universal physical laws. The author successfully conveys tricky subjects without sacrificing clarity or letting his narrative get buried in technical discussions, and he writes with an enthusiasm that is infectious despite the fact that his core argument--that alien life must exist--has no empirical evidence. This is a fun, rewarding journey, and by the end, his analysis teaches readers as much about life on Earth as it does elsewhere. A fresh take on an always fascinating subject.

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January 11, 2021
“That life exists elsewhere in the universe seems almost inevitable,” writes University of Cambridge zoologist Kershenbaum in his entertaining debut. To learn “a great deal about what aliens must be like, how they live, and how they behave,” he writes, humans only need to look closer at animals on Earth. The author discusses ways animals behave in response to their environment: “Most forms serve a function: birds are colourful to attract mates; elephants’ trunks are for manipulating food,” and concludes that there will be as great a diversity in forms on other planets as there is on Earth. By looking at different methods of animal communication, he explores the senses through which aliens could communicate: smell is unlikely and inconvenient, he writes, unless they’re very small, and extraterrestrial life will likely evolve to have vocal abilities, too. Rather than offer a fantastic version of extraterrestrial life, he gives readers something logical to consider, and in so doing provides insight on animals and humans as he explores how life, communication, and movement have evolved. This quirky study of biology is sure to please readers looking to learn about life on other planets, or even here on Earth.

February 1, 2021

Zoologist Kershenbaum (Girton Coll., Univ.of Cambridge) speculates about the forms and behavior of alien animals, based on our knowledge of how life works and evolves on Earth. Since the basic laws of physics and chemistry are believed to apply throughout the universe, the author expects that the basic laws of biology--that life evolves through natural selection, that behavior is a response to a creature's environment, and that form mostly follows function--do as well. Therefore, there are features of life on Earth that the author believes must exist elsewhere: movement, communication, intelligence, sociability, information, and language. Kershenbaum discusses how each of these evolved on Earth and what the similarities and differences might be on other planets with various atmospheres. Included are illustrations of some of Earth's most fascinating animals, such as the Portuguese man o' war, as well as insight into their behavior. Throughout, Kershenbaum also provides a thorough review of why life on Earth exists in all of its variety today. He includes a chapter on artificial intelligence and how an AI society might work, and concludes with a discussion of the meaning of "humanity." VERDICT A highly entertaining, science-based consideration of what alien life might be like.--Rachel Owens, Daytona State Coll. Lib., FL

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