James ephraim lovelock founder of the gaia theory is an independent scientist, planetary ecologist and futurist who lives in devon, england. Gaia emerged in the 1960s, a decade when authority was questioned and status and dignity stood for nothing, but its story is much older. 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. Sep 14, 2019 james lovelock has a lot to celebrate. 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. Lovelock explains that the initial formulation was based on observation, but still lacked a scientific explanation. A new look at life on earth, oxford university press, 1979. He is best known for proposing the gaia hypothesis, which postulates that the earth functions as a selfregulating system. Some have hailed gaia as a profound discovery, while others have dismissed.
Earth is a living entity responds to changes the same way as we do. James lovelock and the gaia hypothesis new scientist. And capping all that, he has just published novacene, a book that predicts the impending end of. 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. Jun 25, 2019 tim radford was science editor of the guardian until 2005. In the extreme form, strong negative biotic feedbacks on temperature can regulate the global energy balance into a state of homeostasis i. How james lovelock introduced gaia to an unsuspecting. A new look at life on earth it revolutionized the perspective of earth as a living being and.
Long ago the greeks, thinking this way, gave to the earth the name gaia or, for short, ge. Science on a pagan planet when james lovelock came up with the gaia hypothesis, today also commonly referred to as gaia theory, he likely didnt know it. In the early 1970s, he finally went public with the gaia. To read more about the gaia hypothesis and related topics, check out these publications. After its publication in james lovelocks book gaia.
A new look at life on earth, the ages of gaia and gaia. James lovelocks theories have become indispensable to anyone responsible for a firms environmental impact. James lovelock is an independent scientist, inventor, and author. 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. But, unusually for a scientist, books are his medium of choice. A new look at life on earth it revolutionized the perspective of earth as a living being. Gaia hypothesis this was proposed by chemist james lovelock and microbiologist lynn margulis in 1970. James ephraim lovelock, is an independent scientist, environmentalist and futurist who lives in dorset, england. James ephraim lovelock, ch, cbe, frs, is an independent scientist, author, researcher, environmentalist, and futurist who lives in devon, england. As a science journalist, he met and got to know james lovelock. At 100, james lovelock has new ideas about gaia and earths. James lovelock english chemist, doctor, and author. How james lovelock introduced gaia to an unsuspecting world.
An article in the new scientist of february 6, 1975, 41 and a popular book length version of the hypothesis, published in 1979 as the quest for gaia, began to attract scientific and critical attention. James lovelocks web site the international homepage. Along with nasa colleague dian hitchcock, lovelock found that the current state of mars atmosphere was in what appeared to be a state of equilibrium. With a phd in medicine, lovelock began his career performing cryopreservation experiments on rodents. But for lovelock, the gaia hypothesis will save us, because. We have begun to add a new series of scientific papers by prof lovelock coauthors onto the website. His gaia hypothesis has gained a tremendous following, though debate about it continues in the scientific and lay communities. James lovelock, in full james ephraim lovelock, born july 26, 1919, letchworth garden city, hertfordshire, england, english chemist, medical doctor, scientific instrument developer, and author best known for the creation and promulgation of the gaia hypothesis, an idea rooted in the notion that all life on earth is part of an entity that regulates earths surficial and atmospheric processes. He is known for proposing the gaia hypothesis, in which he postulates that the earth functions as a selfregulating system. The gaia hypothesis posits that the earth is alivea self regulating organism in its own right.
James lovelock, the scientist who created the gaia hypothesis which describes the earth as a selfregulating systemand marlene taschen of taschen books collaborated on the book. He argues that the anthropocene the age in which humans acquired planetaryscale technologies is, after 300 years, coming to an end. James ephraim lovelock, ch cbe frs born 26 july 1919 is an independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist. 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. The gaia hypothesis, first put forth in the mid1960s, and published in book form in 1975, explores the idea that the life of earth functions as a single organism which actually defines and maintains conditions necessary for its survival. Lewis thomas, the lives of a cell, bantam books, 1974.
Named after the greek earth goddess, it proposes that the responses of living organisms to. The gaia theory was developed in the late 1960s by dr. In the gaia hypothesis, philosopher michael ruse, with his characteristic clarity and wit, uses gaia and its history, its supporters and detractors, to illuminate the nature of science itself. Cyborgs will replace humans and remake the world, james. I pointed out that the singular term, the gaia hypothesis, was being applied to many different propositions, ranging from. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of. James lovelock is the author of more than 200 scientific papers and the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. Jun 27, 2019 an excellent overview of these issues is life 3. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis thatthe earth. James lovelock will always be associated with one big idea. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of. 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 conditions and temperature of the. James lovelock the greatest environmentalist sustainable. Gaia a new look at life on earth james lovelock oxford landmark science.
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. Gaia hypothesis humans, examples, body, used, water. Long ago the greeks, thinking this way, gave to the earth the name gaia. Lovelock proposes radical theories that contrast markedly with traditional green thinking as well as forecasting in. 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. Outlines jim lovelock s original theory that life on earth functions as a single organism, a hypothesis which has generated great debate in scientific circles. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of fact. At 100, james lovelock has new ideas about gaia and earth. The gaia hypothesis posits that earth behaves as a single, selfregulating organism. All this leads to his hypothesis now known as the gaia theory that earth through the life it spawned is itself a self regulating living system, where planetary. Lovelock formulated the gaia hypothesis in journal articles in 1972 and 1974, followed by a popularizing 1979 book gaia. Disagree with gaia hypothesis did not means this book is bad written. The ideas behind the gaia theory are far from the truth, he suggests.
James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis. In this classic work that continues to inspire its many readers, james lovelock deftly. James lovelock, independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist james lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. James lovelock english chemist, doctor, and author britannica. At 100, james lovelock has new ideas about gaia and earths future. The concept of the gaia hypothesis originates from the 1960s when british scientist and independent researcher james lovelock began his work with nasa on developing methods to detect life on mars. The books most memorable slogan was actually quipped by a student of margulis. Fact, theory, and wishful thinking 393 clarify and focus the gaia debate, which seemed to be at risk of becoming a shouting match between disciples and detractors. Sep 28, 2000 in this classic work that continues to inspire its many readers, jim lovelock puts forward his idea that life on earth functions as a single organism. After its publication in james lovelock s book gaia. James lovelock, a british scientist and inventor, shortly after his work with nasa in determining that there was probably no life on mars. Written for nonscientists, 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. 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.
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. Corbis once in a generation, perhaps, you get to read a book. In a new book, novacene, british scientist james lovelock foresees an earth dominated not by humans but by smart, selfteaching entities he calls cyborgs. The renowned british futurist and environmentalist just enjoyed a 100th birthday party with his wife and friends. James lovelock s theories have become indispensable to anyone responsible for a firms environmental impact. His research led to profound new insights about life on earth. James lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. Enter peter ward, palaeontologist, popular author and expert on mass extinctions. 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. That would be james lovelock s gaia hypothesis, with its appealing image of a gigantic, selfregulating system, maintaining the conditions for the biosphere to flourish.
In 1965 english scientist james lovelock had a flash of insight. We feel that we belong here as if this planet were indeed our home. Disclaiming the conventional belief that living matter reacts passively in the face of threats to its existence, lovelock argues that the earths living. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments20 and provided a number of useful. Aug 27, 2010 lovelock s gaia hypothesis proposed that life regulates the earths systems to provide the optimum conditions for itself. Ruse traces gaia s connection to plato and a long history of goal. As a result, no one really pursued this notion until some 200 years later, when the english chemist james lovelock 1919 put forth a similar idea in his 1979 book, gaia. James lovelock originator of gaia theory and inventor of. The theory gained an early supporter in lynn margulis, a microbiologist at the.
Earth is a living entity responds to changes the same way as. Were all doomed, so to hell with wind farms times on line, 5 february, 2006. The practical science of planetary medicine, as well as an autobiography, homage to gaia. Jul 04, 2019 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, the scientist who created the gaia hypothesiswhich describes the earth as a selfregulating systemand marlene taschen of taschen books collaborated on the book. James lovelock, english chemist, medical doctor, scientific instrument developer, and author best known for the creation and promulgation of the gaia hypothesis, an idea rooted in the notion that all life on earth is part of an entity that regulates earths surficial and atmospheric processes. James lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of factvalue dualism article pdf available december 2011 with 1,432 reads how we measure reads. They proposed this earth as a selfregulating complex system to maintain the conditions for life. Practical medicine for the planet, harmony books, 1991. An article in the new scientist of february 6, 1975, 41 and a popular book length version of the hypothesis, published in 1979 as the quest for gaia, began to attract scientific and critical. This has been suggested by the gaia hypothesis of james lovelock, stating that the atmosphere is regulated by and for the biosphere. In this classic work that continues to inspire its many readers, jim lovelock puts forward his idea that life on earth functions as a single organism. Thus the gaia hypothesis validates our sense of wonder and reverence for the natural world, by proposing a scienti. The gaia hypothesis formulated by james lovelock in the late 1960s presents the notion that our planet is a single selfmanaging organism which regulates the conditions necessary for life. The gaia hypothesis gh emerged in the mid1960s through james lovelock, a chemist who later found support in the biologist lynn margulis. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.