"Originally published in France in 2023 by Éditions du Seuil, S.A. as À l'aube de nouveaux horizons.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The overview effect -- Sparks of life -- Venus and its veil of secrecy -- Blue sunsets -- Planetary shores -- Titan: a world of unknowns -- New horizons -- Revolutions in the night sky -- Visions of Tatooine and Mordor -- Echoes of cosmic waves -- Connecting blue dots -- Paradoxes, paradigms, and the grammar of life -- Epilogue: time as a cosmic mirror.

"One of the world's leading astrobiologists takes us on an awe-inspiring journey across the cosmos to investigate some of humanity's most profound questions: Are we alone in the universe? And, how did life on Earth begin? We are living in a golden age in astronomy and in the search for life the universe. Over the last few decades, space exploration has shown that not only are there habitable environments within our solar system, but there are millions of exoplanets within our galaxy that could support life. We are on the cusp of breakthroughs that will revolutionize our understanding of our place in the cosmos in. Yet a profound question remains: Are we alone in the universe? The Secret Life of the Universe is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the search for life, and a dazzling introduction to the latest discoveries. This is an exhilarating journey for anyone who has ever looked up at the stars and wondered what might be out there"-- Provided by publisher.