Short of intergalactic travel or aliens landing on Earth, it may seem there is no way for us to learn about extraterrestrial life. However, as this captivating volume details, we may know more than we think. Science and sci-fi enthusiasts will be fascinated to discover that the conditions of various extreme environments on Earth–the Arctic, deep underground, and deep sea, to name a few–are analogous to those of various regions of space. By examining the terrestrial species–or extremophiles–that thrive in these conditions and their survival mechanisms, we can begin to understand extraterrestrial life before ever making contact.