Books

The Stardust Revolution

Best Book 2012, One Minute Astronomer
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Revised and updated 2022 second edition

The Stardust Revolution tells the story of a scientific revolution in the making. Today, stardust science is revealing an amazing new part of what it means to be human, the story of our origin in the stars.

Twentieth-century astronomy was dominated by astrophysics, the search for the physical origins and structure of the universe. Now a new breed of scientists—astrobiologists and astrochemists—are taking the study of life into the space age. Astrobiologists study the origins, evolution and distribution of life, not just on Earth, but in the universe. These stardust scientists aren’t probing the universe’s physical structure, but rather its biological nature.

Evolutionary theory is entering the space age.

Stardust Revolution interview with CBC Radio Quirks and Quarks
“Berkowitz gracefully chronicles the work and passion of physicists, chemists, and other 'stardust scientists' who probe the universe for signs of life.”
Scientific American
“Mind blowing and very well written. Prepare to be astonished.”
Goodreads
“An impressively researched and exciting book.”
New Scientist Magazine
“A splendid book, beautifully written and scientifically accurate.”
David Morrison
Director, Carl Sagan Center for Study of Life in the Universe
“Berkowitz expertly weaves together various threads to create a bigger story about our changing understanding regarding the origins of life here and elsewhere in the universe.”
Jeff Foust
Editor, The Space Review
“Delightfully readable...Illuminates the greatest scientific story of our time.”
Steven J. Dick
Former NASA Chief Historian
“Read it and you’ll never look at the night sky, or yourself, the same way again.”
Caleb Scharf
Director of Astrobiology, Columbia University

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Jurassic Poop

2007 winner, American Institute of Physics award
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Left by an animal long ago, this durable doo-doo survived the long journey through the ages. It started out stinky, but now it’s frozen, dried or turned to rock. To a scientist, it’s anything but gross — it’s a priceless artifact that can help piece together the puzzle of ancient life.

Funny and informative, Jurassic Poop, is flush with amazing facts, stories and activities. Learn how to spot ancient poop impostors. Meet dung detectives getting to the bottom of history’s hind-end mysteries. Find out how poop gets preserved and discover what it can tell us about dinosaurs, humans and many other animals from long ago. So hold your nose and take a journey back in time to see what tales ancient poop has to tell.

Interview on Big Picture Science
“Jurassic Poop works brilliantly. First there's the potty angle....backed up with sound science and careful descriptions...Any young reader will love Jurassic Poop.”
Quill and Quire
“All scatological kidding aside, this book is a very good overview of what we know about coprolites. The book is an excellent resource for educators at all levels.”
Professor Reed Wicander
American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists

Out of This World

Best of 2009 astronomy books, SkyNews
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In1964 we knew of nine planets in the entire universe, those from Mercury out to Pluto. When anyone looked into the inky night sky, they could see millions of stars, but we didn’t know if these distant suns shone on alien worlds. Now we do. In 1995 astronomers discovered the first exoplanet – a planet around a star other than the Sun. To date we’ve found more than 400, all of which are large, Jupiter-like gas planets.

Now the search is on to discover the first, rocky Earth-like planet – an alien Earth. It’s one of the greatest quests in human history, and readers of Out of This World belong to the generation that will be transformed by a new view of the cosmos.

I was initially asked to write a book about UFOs and crop circles. I said: The real story of the search for alien life is way more interesting! Today, astrobiologists aren’t searching just for aliens in spaceships, but entire living planets.

Jacob Berkowitz interview on NPR’s Science Friday
“Jacob Berkowitz is the best kind of kids’ science writer. He writes with competence, humour, a clear love of science and the art of sharing that love with young readers.”
Quill and Quire
“Out of This World is the total package. It combines accessible content with colour and creativity, and is sure to engage and fascinate curious Earthlings of all ages.”
Canadian Children’s Book News