I have always held the belief that science is fueled by curiosity. My interest in the cosmos, and consecutively of our place in this tiny inconsequential planet called Earth, was borne from my personal quest to understand what really lay outside of our beautiful world and our true place in this pale blue dot. I felt there was an innate need to address some of the fundamental questions all of us have about the universe and do so in a manner that everyone can comprehend regardless of their proficiency in science.If you’ve ever wondered about how we came to be or how our complex civilizations developed or yet if there are other planets that can harbor life, this book makes an honest attempt at answering all of those questions and more in a way that is fun and yet thought provoking.From the dawn of time, humans have aspired to venture out to the vastness of space. People through the ages have looked up and wondered if we indeed are alone. Our science tells us that the basic elements of life are abundant in nature which means life can well and truly be developing in one or perhaps a number of other planetary systems simultaneously. However, our practical observation tells us that while the basics of life can be found easily, the perfect hospitable environment that is needed for life to foster and prosper is quite rare which makes the Earth so very special. But we must remember that there are billions of galaxies out there with multiple trillion star systems and who knows, maybe one of them would have conditions similar to earth!Humanity must not lose its motivation and resolve to voyage into space. This book is a small effort in awakening the scientist in you, to energize you, excite you to be awed by our beautiful universe. Keep looking up!