Now that we are able to go beyond the discovery of gas giants to locate smaller planets, the hunt is on for a planet that exhibits those just right conditions for supporting life. Expanding upon a series of lectures for graduate students and young researchers held in the summer of 2007 in Scotland, this book includes the contributions of recognized world leaders writing in their areas of expertise. While the text offers the solid foundation required by graduate students, it also encourages further study by looking at a number of advanced topics. It considers the most recent theories about the creation and development of planets, including our own.