InhaltsangabeComets and the Origin and Evolution of Life.- The Origin of the Atmosphere and of the Oceans.- Cometary Micrometeorites in Planetology, Exobiology, and Early Climatology.- Macromolecules: From Star-Forming Regions to Comets to the Origins of Life.- Impact Delivery of Prebiotic Organic Matter to Planetary Surfaces.- Comets and Prebiotic Organic Molecules on Early Earth.- Impacts and the Early Evolution of Life.- Extraterrestrial Impact Episodes and Archaean to Early Proterozoic (3.8-2.4 Ga) Habitats of Life.- The Contemporary Hazard of Comet Impacts.- The Conditions for Liquid Water in Cometary Nuclei.- Spacecraft Missions to Comets.- Interstellar and Cometary Dust in Relation to the Origin of Life.