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Elements for the history of a long quest: search for life in the Universe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2013

Danielle Briot
Danielle Briot*
Affiliation:
Observatoire de Paris, 61 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75014, Paris, France e-mail: danielle.briot@obspm.fr
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Abstract

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Drake formula, it appears timely to briefly review the history of Astrobiology from the origins up to the epoch of the Drake formula. After reminding the main steps of this history during Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance, we point out some little known or unknown studies published during the Modern and Contemporary epochs. Then we review the importance of Astrobiology and the search for life in the Universe in scientific publications during the 20th century.

Keywords

astrobiologyastrobotanyastronomyhistory
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 12 , Special Issue 3: The Drake Equation , July 2013 , pp. 254 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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