Jon Willis
July 02nd, 2025
The Pale Blue Data Point: An Earth-Based Perspective on the Search for Alien Life (University of Chicago Press $33.95) offers a tour of our planet to explore the ultimate question: Are we alone in the universe? Canadian astronomer Jon Willis argues that the best place to start looking for extraterrestrial life is right here on Earth. By studying hydrothermal vents, ancient fossils in Australia and deep-sea environments, Willis shows how these Earth analogs help scientists imagine what life might look like on distant worlds. The book connects meteorite hunting, exoplanet detection and dolphin intelligence to speculate on alien biology and consciousness, reframing Earth from Carl Sagan’s “pale blue dot” to a “pale blue data point.” Willis is an Associate Professor of Astronomy at the University of Victoria, also the author of All These Worlds Are Yours: The Scientific Search for Alien Life. 9780226822402
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