A Journey with Fred Hoyle

This is the story of the author's unique scientific journey with one of the most remarkable men of 20th century science. The journey begins in Sri Lanka, the author's native country, with his childhood acquaintance with Fred Hoyle's writings. The action then moves to Cambridge, where the famous Hoyle–Wickramasinghe collaborations begin. A research programme which was started in 1962 on the carbonaceous nature of interstellar dust leads, over the next two decades, to developments that are continued in both Cambridge and Cardiff. These developments prompt Hoyle and the author to postulate the organic theory of cosmic dust (which is now generally accepted), and then to challenge one of the most cherished paradigms of contemporary science — the theory that life originated on Earth in a warm primordial soup. This new edition examines the many scientific developments that have transpired since the first edition was published. The discovery of bacteria in the upper reaches of the atmosphere, biological signatures in meteorites, spectroscopy of high-z galaxies and more all mesh with many of the ideas that had their origin in the first edition. Pushing into the future, the updated text examines the many experiments and probes currently operating or planned that will shed more light on the theory of planetary panspermia. A Journey with Fred Hoyle is an intriguing book that delineates the progress of a collaboration spanning 40 years, through a sequence of personal reflections, anecdotes and reminiscences. Contents:Origins: Prelude to the JourneyCambridge and a First MeetingA Hike in the Lake DistrictBetwixt the StarsThe Route to Carbon DustA Theory Takes ShapeThe Institute of Astronomy: The Vintage YearsWinds of ChangeThe Cardiff EraThe Search for Cosmic LifeLife from Comets and Pathogens from SpaceFirst Signs of LifeBacterial Dust Predictions VerifiedLife on the PlanetsEvolution from SpaceTheories of TrialA Fossil ControversyComet Halley and Its LegacyAlternative CosmologiesThe Last DecadeEpilogue Readership: General readers and students of the history of science. Keywords:Panspermia;Comets;Interstellar Dust;Origins of Life;Evolution;Hoyle–Wickramasinghe TheoriesKey Features:Gives a unique insight into the minds of two men who challenged one of the most cherished paradigms of modern scienceHighlights the personal and social contexts of a major scientific controversy as it developed and was finally resolvedShows how an idea that was heresy eventually became accepted by the scientific communityReviews: Reviews of the First Edition: "This is the story of the remarkable 40-year friendship and scientific collaboration between the British astrophysicist Fred Hoyle and the Sri Lankan mathematician and astronomer Chandra Wickramasinghe … The work they are most famous for is their painstaking building of the case for a cosmic origin of life. Wickramasinghe and Hoyle's picture of a galaxy teeming with life is a stunning one … The scientific community has come a long way towards Hoyle and Wickramasinghe's position, wholeheartedly embracing the idea of planetary panspermia." New Scientist "… An enlightening account of a 40-year scientific collaboration between two remarkable men." Lord Rees OM, Astronomer Royal "The Hoyle-Wickramasinghe collaboration was notable for the daring leaps over knowledge gaps they were prepared to make. This book is a valuable guide to their corpus, and can serve as a source of ideas and speculations." International Journal of Astrobiology "A Journey with Fred Hoyle is an intriguing, pacey insight into the working of a fertile scientific mind, and especially one focussed on a topic that is not in the mainstream of astronomical and biological endeavour … I enjoyed A Journey with Fred Hoyle greatly." The Observatory Magazine "This is a fine blend of personal anecdotes, travel impressions, and scientific reporting — interesting, informative, and worth reading." Choice "This book is of great interest; it is written in an accessible and exciting way; and I recommend it for a broad readership." Structural Chemistry “This is an interesting book and worth reading for those who like to follow the complicated fate of successful ideas.” CERN Courier