David S. Stevenson

David Sinclair Stevenson studied Molecular Biology at Glasgow University before completing his PhD in molecular genetics at the University of Cambridge. Subsequently, David studied and achieved a distinction in Astronomy and Planetary Science, and Geochemistry and Geophysics at the Open University. His peer reviewed biological research articles from 1999 to 2009 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 scientific 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 in July 2007, with “Supercharged Supernovae” featuring as the cover story for the October 2011 edition of Sky & Telescope. He is currently writing another book for Springer called Under a Crimson Sun , on the possibilities of life in red dwarf systems. David lives in Nottingham in the UK with his wife and family. [from page vii of Extreme Explosions]