Stevenson, D: Under a Crimson Sun

The Evolution of Red Dwarfs.- Gliese 581, a Planetary System 20 Light-years from Earth.- 'Super-Earths'.- The Development of Life.- Prospects for Sustained Evolution.- Surface Conditions on Super Earths.- Gliese 581 - the Next 400 Billion Years.- Comparison with the Evolution of Earth.- Red Dwarfs - the Final Bastions of Life?.

David S. Stevenson studied molecular biology at Glasgow and Cambridge Universities. He has a BSc Honours 1st Class Glasgow University; a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Cambridge University; Open University - Astronomy and Planetary Sciences (distinction), and Open University, Geophysics and Geochemistry. His peer-reviewed biological research articles from 1999 to 2003 include a paper on the early development of life, "The Origin of Translation," published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology.

 

David's interest in astronomy was encouraged from an early age by his father. This (combined with an interest in explosions!) has led David to research and write about the life and death of stars.

 

After a stint in academia David became a teacher but continued to write science articles for various publications. He has published numerous articles on the Blackwell Plant Sciences website (2002-2007). "Turning Out the Lights" (an article about red dwarfs) was published in Popular Astronomy in 2003, "A Bigger Bang" (about Type Ia Supernovae) in Sky & Telescope last July, with "Exceptional Explosions" (also for Sky & Telescope) currently in production. He is currently writing another book for Springer on what he terms "ultranovas," which are a type of supernova.

 

David lives in Nottingham in the UK with his wife and family.