James lovelock, creator of the gaia hypothesis and the greatest environmental thinker of our time, has produced an astounding new theory about future of life on earth. James lovelock explains gaia hypothesis on the sacred nacfe. In his two other books on the subject, lovelock set the record straight. James ephraim lovelock, ch cbe frs born 26 july 1919 is an english independent scientist, environmentalist and futurist. Download free james lovelock explains gaia hypothesis on the sacred.
Gaia proposes that the earth acts like a living organism. A new look at life on earth by james lovelock audiobook. James lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. This book addresses planetary health, the diagnosis of its sickness, prognosis for recovery and prescriptions for treatment. Gaia, a new look at life on earth james lovelock, jim e. I have always been partial to james lovelock s gaia hypothesis that the earths ecosystem essentially acts as a selfregulating organism.
Early in the book lovelock makes the important point that the earth itself falls outside the habitable zone of planets in the solar system. First proposed in the 1970s, lovelock s hypothesis remains highly controversial and continues to provoke fierce debate. The revenge of gaia is a scientific book by esteemed scientist james lovelock which discusses the effect human activity is having on the planet and what if anything can be done to halt the damage we have already caused. Lovelock and lynn margulis, published in tellus xxvi 1974. James lovelock s theories have become indispensable to anyone responsible for a firms environmental impact.
The gaia hypothesis proposed by james lovelock 1972 suggests that living organisms on the planet interact with their surrounding inorganic environment to form a synergetic and selfregulating system that created, and now maintains, the climate and biochemical conditions that make life on earth possible. A new look at life on earth, the revenge of gaia, the vanishing face of gaia, and a rough ride to the future. A new look at life on earth 1979 is written by james lovelock who is an inventor, scientists and turned 101 years old this year 2020. The gaia hypothesis holds that earths physical and biological processes are linked to form a complex, selfregulating system and that life has affected this system over time. We aim to add further content articles, scientific papers and speeches over coming weeks and months. Naming his theory after the ancient greek earth goddess, lovelock s gaia hypothesis argued that everything on the planet air, water, soil, and living organisms somehow act together in a global, selforganizing system to maintain conditions suitable to sustaining and perpetuating life. The gaia hypothesis proposed by james lovelock 1972 suggests that living organisms on the planet interact with their surrounding inorganic environment to. A new look at life on earth oxford landmark science by james lovelock 201601 james lovelock. Lovelock formulated the gaia hypothesis in journal articles in 1972 and 1974, followed by a popularizing 1979 book gaia. We have begun to add a new series of scientific papers by prof lovelock coauthors onto the website. According to gaia theory, life is a planetarywide phenomenon that alters the environment on a planetary scale. Aug 03, 2020 for his 100th birthday last year, james lovelock published a book. Jul 01, 2016 james lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory.
When he first sketched out his brilliant gaia theory in t. Lovelock proposes radical theories that contrast markedly with traditional green thinking as well as forecasting in stark detail what may occur if action is not taken promptly. Winner, 2010 nautilus silver book award cosmologynew science gaia. Sep 16, 2000 gaia was the earth goddess, the greeks mother nature. Her model is more limited in scope than the one that lovelock proposed. This year, nearing 101, he wryly commented, the biosphere and i are both in the last one percent of our lives. Mar 30, 2014 environmentalism has become a religion and does not pay enough attention to facts, according to james lovelock the 94 yearold scientist, famous for his gaia hypothesis that earth is a self.
Dr james lovelock and story about gaia hypothesis pub med. Gaia bats last interdependencies in a troubled world. A couple of years i ago i read james lovelock s first book on gaia originally published in the late 1970s, and this is the follow up, coming about a decade later. Readers may recognize lovelock as the creator of the gaia hypothesis, which postulates that earth functions as a selfregulating system. Reichle, in the global carbon cycle and climate change, 2020 2. Lovelock explains that the initial formulation was based on observation, but still lacked a scientific explanation. In this book she is discussed through the gaia hypothesis or her more formal science name. The first scientifically rigorous theory was the gaia hypothesis by james lovelock, a uk chemist.
Naturally, many academic scientists do not like this way of presenting science. Welcome to the personal website of james lovelock, originator of gaia theory, inventor of the electron capture detector which made possible the detection of cfcs and other atmospheric nanopollutants and of the microwave oven. A chemist by training, who invented instruments for mars rovers and helped to discover the depletion of the ozone layer, lovelock is most celebrated in pop culture for his gaia hypothesis. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of fact. In the revenge of gaia, bestselling author james lovelock father of climate studies and originator of the influential gaia theory which views the entire earth as a living metaorganismprovides a definitive look at our imminent global crisis. The earth has an impossible atmosphere, lovelock told the bbc in 2019. As a science journalist, he met and got to know james lovelock. James lovelocks gaia hypothesis archive ouverte hal. The book introduces the concept of the anticlaw hypothesis. In september 2005, prospect magazine named him as one of the worlds top 100 global public intellectuals. The coming age of hyperintelligence by james lovelock. The gaia hypothesis the moment of inspirationthe epiphany, one might saycame to english scientist james lovelock one afternoon in september 1965. One of the most unpredicted outcomes of the space program was the gaia hypothesis, the theory the biosphere itself works to regulate the temperature and chemical content of the earths atmosphere. The scientific investigation of the gaia hypothesis focuses on observing how the biosphere and the evolution of life forms contribute to the stability of global temperature, ocean salinity, oxygen in the atmosphere and other factors of habitability in a preferred homeostasis.
James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis but has also used the term gaia theory. Lovelock admitted that the relentless criticism pained him. His gaia hypothesis has gained a tremendous following, though debate about it continues in the scientific and lay communities. He is best known for proposing the gaia hypothesis, which postulates that the earth functions as a selfregulating system with a phd in medicine, lovelock began his career performing cryopreservation experiments on rodents, including successfully thawing frozen specimens.
Elected to the royal society in 1974, james lovelock is the originator of gaia theory. He is best known for proposing the gaia hypothesis, which postulates that the earth functions as a selfregulating system. The story lovelock is telling here falls within the. In 1965 english scientist james lovelock had a flash of insight. We belong to gaia by james lovelock nook book ebook.
The gaia hypothesis was formulated by the chemist james lovelock and codeveloped by the microbiologist lynn margulis in the 1970s. Lovelock poses here the experiences and reflections that made him create gaia, the hypothesis that the biosphere is a system that acts to maintain the chemical. Nov 10, 2020 james lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. Lovelock s new book novacene continues to develop the gaia hypothesis in some rather strange directions.
Named after the greek earth goddess, it proposes that the responses of living organisms to. The gaia hypothesis posits that the earth is alivea self regulating organism in its own right. Folk need a good metaphor and gaia has helped establish herself by her nice short name. James lovelock s gaia hypothesis posits that life itself has intervened in the regulation of the planetary environment in order to keep it stable and favorable for life. Life may be the product of blind chance and opportune circumstance, but once it has. In his two other books on the subject, lovelock set the record straight on the damage that cfcc have done to ourplanet and its delicate balance of the interaction between lifeforms. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments20 and provided a number of useful. James lovelock s gaia hypothesis has challenged conventional thinking about the nature of the earth as an integrated system. About the author james lovelock is the author of more than two hundred scientific papers and the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory.
Jan 07, 2021 this idea has new resonance in a time of climate crisis, and in novacene, james lovelock, the man who proposed the gaia hypothesis and who turned a hundred in 2019, has set down some thoughts about the possible future of life on this rapidly warming planet. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the earths living matter. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the earths living matterair. Touchingly, lovelock reports in his latest book that he originally thought golding had suggested calling it the gyre hypothesis, after the.
Oct 23, 20 the man behind gaia hypothesis the concept that the earth is a selfsustaining organism. I would say ages of gaia is a stronger book the the original by a considerable margin. We should be the heart and mind of the earth, not its. Lovelock, gaia and nuclear power books the guardian. The gaia hypothesis was launched almost 40 years ago by the famous chemist james lovelock, who was engaged by the national aeronautics and space. James lovelock originator of gaia theory and inventor of. Written for the nonscientist, gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence with which to support a new and radically different model of our planet. A variant of this hypothesis was developed by lynn margulis, a microbiologist, in 1979. Almost every debate on global warming, pollution and damage to biodiversity references this idea at some point, and with good reason, as it is an interesting idea. In 2006, his book the revenge of gaia predicted disastrous effects from climate change within just a few decades, writing that only a handful of. James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis. How james lovelock introduced gaia to an unsuspecting world. Lovelock 1995 gave evidence of this in his second book, showing the evolution from the world of the early. Jul 02, 2018 developed by scientist and inventor james lovelock, and microbiologist lynn margulis, the gaia hypothesis originally proposed that life, through its interactions with the earths crust, oceans.
James lovelock is a worldrenowned scientist and inventor whose work on detecting cfcs chlorofluorocarbons in our environment led him to develop a new theory about our planet. James lovelock, the british independent scientist, turned 100 this year. James ephraim lovelock, ch, cbe, frs, is an independent scientist, author, researcher, environmentalist, and futurist who lives in devon, england. In this disturbing new book, lovelock guides us toward a hard reality. James ephraim lovelock, is an independent scientist, environmentalist and futurist who lives in dorset, england. James lovelock s hypothesis, that the earth is a living organism, has changed peoples view of the world. The book proposed a hypothesis developed by lovelock and. In a new preface to this edition, he outlines his view of the present state of the debate. The gaia hypothesis posits that earth behaves as a single, selfregulating organism. Scientists finally have an explanation for the gaia puzzle. James lovelock general presentation and home page in english. Exploring our lovehate relationship with gaia new scientist.
James lovelock and lynn margulis coined the phrase the gaia hypothesis to suggest not only that life has a greater influence on the evolution of the earth than is typically assumed across most earth science disciplines but also that life serves as an active control system. The author of more than 200 scientific papers, he was elected a fellow of the royal society in 1974. More recently, professor lovelock published his new book, the revenge of gaia. This idea has new resonance in a time of climate crisis, and in novacene, james lovelock, the man who proposed the gaia hypothesis and who turned a hundred in 2019, has set down some thoughts about the possible future of life on this rapidly warming planet. Jun 27, 2019 a chemist by training, who invented instruments for mars rovers and helped to discover the depletion of the ozone layer, lovelock is most celebrated in pop culture for his gaia hypothesis. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of. Since gaia was first published, jim lovelock s hypothesis has become a hotly debated topic in scientific circles. James lovelock, independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist james lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. An article in the new scientist of february 6, 1975, and a popular book length version of the hypothesis, published in 1979 as the quest for gaia, began to attract scientific and critical attention.
Scientists debate gaia is a multidisciplinary reexamination of the gaia hypothesis, which was introduced by james lovelock and lynn margulis in the early 1970s. The gaia hypothesis, as it then was, is simply put. Hes most notably known for his work on the gaia hypothesis which, when it was first formulated in the 1970s, revolutionized how science would come to conceive of the relationship between the earth and its inhabitants. Aug 27, 2010 we have learned so much about our home planet in the three decades since james lovelock wrote gaia. English web page of james lovelock, the founding historical and cultural leader. At 100, james lovelock has new ideas about gaia and earths. Originally proposed by james lovelock as the earth feedback hypothesis, it was. Why the earth is fighting back and how we can still save humanity 2006 is a book by james lovelock. He is known for proposing the gaia hypothesis, in which he postulates that the earth functions as a selfregulating system.
Developed by scientist and inventor james lovelock, and microbiologist lynn margulis, the gaia hypothesis originally proposed that life. Her version is sometimes called the gaia theory note uppercaset. A new look at life on earth by james lovelock books. Some editions of the book have a different, less optimistic subtitle. In this classic work that continues to inspire its many readers, james lovelock deftly explains his idea that life on earth functions as a single organism. When a colleague and i interviewed him in 2000, he said that by the end of the 1980s he had begun to feel that his work on gaia had been. Lovelock s gaia theory was written in the 1970s, but by now has become one of the most iconic environmental and scientific hypotheses, and for that reason alone, it is worth a read. Lovelock proposes radical theories that contrast markedly with traditional green thinking as well as forecasting in stark detail what may occur if action is not taken. How james lovelock introduced gaia to an unsuspecting. Gaia hypothesis the theory, based on an idea put forward by the british scientist james ephraim lovelock 1919, that the whole earth, including both its biotic living and abiotic nonliving components, functions as a single selfregulating system. James lovelock and the gaia hypothesis louis proyect. James lovelock, who turned 100 years old while writing this book, is lauded as one of the most important environmental thinkers of our time.
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