Required Reading List
Required reading list. For a given date (e.g., Feb 3), you are to have
read my lecture and the linked material before that class, and this is
the reading to which you are to write a response; an exception is for
the Jan 30 class, where no report on my lecture is needed as it was
the first class.
- Jan 25: Overview and the scale of the universe; cosmological origins
- Feb 1: Planet formation
Link, and
Link 2
- Feb 8: Biological evolution
Link and
Link 2
- Feb 15: Biological evolution, continued
Link and
Link 2
- Feb 22: The origin of life; the limits of life
Link and
Link 2
- Feb 29: Mass extinctions
Link
- Mar 7: Midterm; no extra reading
- Mar 14: Spring break; enjoy yourself!
- Mar 21: Possible requirements for life
Link
- Mar 28: Mars
Link
- Apr 4: Other places in the Solar System. Extrasolar planets
Link,
Link 2,
Link 3, and
Link 4
- Apr 11: Future of life on Earth
Link
- Apr 18: Drake equation, development of intelligence, alien visitation
Link,
Link 2,
Link 3, and
Link 4
- Apr 25: Interstellar travel, the Fermi paradox
Link and
Link 2
- May 2: Relativity, time travel, and terraforming
Link and
Link 2
- May 9: Presentation of term projects; no extra reading
- May 16, 1:30-3:30 PM: final exam; no extra reading
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