Out of this World and into the Next (Hardback)

Notes from a Physicist on Space Exploration

A theoretical physicist's grand tour of how life emerged on earth and how human civilization will begin expanding beyond our home planet

'A manifesto for going off-world to Mars and beyond' TLS

'A breath-taking journey' BRUCE DAMER

'Adriana Marais combs the cosmic dust in her prospectus for all Mars adventurers' THE TIMES

Moving to Mars may sound like science fiction but the truth is that today, scant decades since our first space missions, humanity is on the verge of becoming multiplanetary. SpaceX is building a Starship transport system; China successfully demonstrated crop growth on the Moon; and, in a space mining milestone, Japan's recent asteroid missions have returned samples to Earth.

Adriana Marais has dedicated her life to preparing for extraplanetary settlement, considering not just the scientific and technological possibilities but also the ethical responsibilities of our species as we explore new frontiers. In 2019, she launched the Proudly Human: Off-World Project, a series of extreme habitation experiments investigating the capabilities necessary for life beyond our home planet.

In this extraordinary era of rapid technological development, Marais explores the scientific and ethical questions that stands at the heart of scientific endeavour: How did we get here - and where are we going next?

Publication date: April 10, 2025

£18.99

ISBN: 9781800819801

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Arts, Language & Literature

Out of this World and into the Next (Accessible EPUBAccessible EPUB)

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Out of this World and into the Next (Ebook)

Notes from a Physicist on Space Exploration

Adriana Marais

A theoretical physicist's grand tour of how life emerged on earth and how human civilization will begin expanding beyond our home planet

'A manifesto for going off-world to Mars and beyond' TLS

'A breath-taking journey' BRUCE DAMER

'Adriana Marais combs the cosmic dust in her prospectus for all Mars adventurers' THE TIMES

Publication date: April 10, 2025

£18.99

ISBN: 9781800819832

ISBN 10 / ASIN: B0D8V3LKXW

Imprint: Profile Books

Subject: Arts, Language & Literature

Reviews for Out of this World and into the Next

'A breathtaking journey from the Big Bang to the tantalising threshold of a general theory of life and its future (and ours) in the cosmos'

Bruce Damer, astrobiologist

'A fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of life, the universe, and the future of humanity. Immensely readable yet rigorously thought-through, the book tackles the pressing challenges facing humanity, and envisions a future shaped by clean energy, asteroid mining, and the potential for terraforming Mars. With a focus on the most profound questions of existence, Marais challenges readers to consider not just the scientific and technological possibilities but also the ethical responsibilities of our species: one can only hope that Elon Musk will pick up a copy'

Jonathan Morrison

'Elon Musk wants to send people to Mars, but how will life be on the red planet? Marais combs the cosmic dust for answers in her prospectus for all Mars adventurers, and she sets out the very hard, very (very) cold facts ... She is no starry-eyed space cadet, but a physicist working in the esoteric byways of quantum biology, so she knows one end of a dilithium crystal from the other. Space, one hardly needs to be reminded, is always trying to kill you, and this could provide a lesson in how much we should be tidying things up back home'

Henry Gee The Times

'Delves into the practical, theoretical, emotional and human aspects of space exploration, grounded in the impact that journey can and will have on humanity on Earth'

Blackwell's Noteworthy Hardback Non-Fiction Recommendations

'Fast-paced, well-written and thought provoking ... Marais takes back to the beginning of the Universe, from the Big Bang through the formation of the first stars to the birth of our Solar System and creation of Earth. This intelligently written book has a wide reach [as it] carries us through many complex topics, from quantum photosynthesis to terraforming, nuclear fusion reactors to asteroid mining ... I found the analysis of our world today, with many jaw-dropping statistics about pollution and the unequal distribution of resources both sobering and fascinating.'

Jenny Winder BBC Sky at Night

'A manifesto for going off-world to Mars and beyond. As a director of the Foundation for Space Development Africa, she is a well-qualified and energetic advocate for this developmental journey. There's a can-do spirit to Marais's writing, and a fascination with past explorers, but her arguments are more than boosterism and jingoistic fervour. She's honest, pessimistic even, about humanity's impact on our planetary environment.'

Richard Dunn TLS

'Adriana is boldly taking readers where few have gone before - past the billionaires and booster rockets, and straight into the human heart of space exploration'

Fairlady

Adriana Marais

Dr Adriana Marais is an award-winning theoretical physicist and internationally renowned advocate for off-world exploration. Her PhD and postdoctoral work in quantum biology focused on photosynthesis and the origins of the building blocks of life in space. She was Head of Innovation at SAP Africa between 2017 and 2019, and is currently a Director at the Foundation for Space Development Africa. In 2020, she was among 5 global finalists for Women in Tech's the Most Disruptive Woman in Tech Award, and was one of 100 candidates selected for Mars One.