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. Jun 25, 2019 lovelocks gaia theory states that, for much of the past 3. The hypothesis was formulated by the chemist james lovelock and codeveloped by the microbiologist lynn margulis in the 1970s. James lovelock, who came up with the gaia hypothesis, also said its not yet. The book is quite good and made me aware of planetary processes that i did not know of such as the sulphur cycle with the role of dms, and in a clear and beautiful way. The earth, james lovelock proposes, behaves as if it were a supero. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments and provided a number of useful predictions. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of. Lovelock is best known for formulating the controversial gaia theory in the 1970s, with ruth margulis of the university of massachusetts, which states that organisms interact with and regulate earths surface and atmosphere. Jul 31, 2019 james lovelock, the prophet of gaia, has just celebrated his 100th birthday. The human race could be wiped out unless a way is found to fix climate change, a leading scientist has told sky news. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Consider it an illustrated guide to how the world works. 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. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Gaia exhibits local entropy reduction which is a character of life, but so does the galaxy with star formation in the spiral arms. James lovelock talks to david freeman a rough ride to. 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. The theory gained an early supporter in lynn margulis. James lovelock, who developed his ideas about life regulating the earths environment in the 1960s earth is a perfect planet for life but, according to gaia theory, this is no coincidence.
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. James lovelock, independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist james lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. The oxford english dictionary defines this as the global ecosystem, understood to function in the manner of a vast selfregulating. We now have the evidence to pass judgement on james lovelocks wildly. Apr 23, 2012 james lovelock developed the gaia theory in the 1960s while working with nasa. He is best known for proposing the gaia hypothesis, which postulates that the earth functions as a selfregulating system.
Fiercely debated by biologists, chemists, and cyberneticists, it has been the subject of numerous conferences and a bbc special which aired on public tvs nova series. James lovelocks theories have become indispensable to anyone responsible for a firms environmental impact. It claims that all of the organic and inorganic components of. The gaia hypothesis has since been supported by a number of scientific experiments20 and provided a number of useful. Author of the gaia theory welcome to professor james lovelocks web site.
Lovelock named the idea after gaia, the primordial goddess who personified the earth in greek mythology. The gaia hypothesis, also known as gaia theory or gaia principle, proposes that. James lovelock, a british scientist and inventor, shortly after his work with nasa in determining that there was probably no life on mars. 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. All this leads to his hypothesis now known as the gaia theory that earth through. In contrast to lovelocks later books the revenge of gaia and vanishing. James lovelock, environmental guru and creator of gaia theory, has a new book out. Earth will adjust to these stresses, but the human race faces a severe test. His research led to profound new insights about life on earth. We have learned so much about our home planet in the three decades since james lovelock wrote gaia. Aug 27, 2010 we have learned so much about our home planet in the three decades since james lovelock wrote gaia. 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. But according to james lovelock, the theory s originator, that organism is now sick.
James lovelocks web site the international homepage. The oncetentative gaia hypothesis has become part of scientific orthodoxy. Essentially a dual biography, it deftly recounts in alternating chapters the development of climate change theory and the life of lovelock himself. James lovelock is the originator of the gaia hypothesis now gaia theory. James lovelock will always be associated with one big idea. James ephraim lovelock ch cbe frs born 26 july 1919 is an independent scientist who lives in devon. Gaia paperback james lovelock oxford university press. Long ago the greeks, thinking this way, gave to the earth the name gaia or, for short, ge. James lovelock originator of gaia theory and inventor of. James lovelock english chemist, doctor, and author. It is plalinly laid out, and lovingly expounded upon. One of his inventions is the electron capture detector. How james lovelock introduced gaia to an unsuspecting world.
James lovelock developed the gaia theory in the 1960s while working with nasa. Once in a generation, perhaps, you get to read a book that will change the. James lovelock is a worldrenowned scientist and inventor whose work on detecting cfcs chlorofluorocarbons in our environment led him to develop a new theory. As a scientist, mr lovelock went on to develop gaia theory, the idea that earth is a single, complex, selfregulating system. 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. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of fact. Gaia hypothesis, model of the earth in which its living and nonliving parts are viewed as a complex interacting system that can be thought of as a single organism. James lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of factvalue dualism. Discover the biography of a foremost pioneer in the development of environmental concepts throughout the world. In this classic work that continues to inspire its many readers, james lovelock deftly. James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis. 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. Its author has since morphed from j e, an independent scientist, to james lovelock, the worldfamous author and speaker. At home in dorset he talks about climate change, green politics, the mysteries of existence, the resilience of the earth and falling in love in old age.
James lovelock, the prophet of gaia, has just celebrated his 100th birthday. James lovelock, the man behind the gaia theory, thinks that climate change will. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Discover book depositorys huge selection of james lovelock books online. 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. The gaia hypothesis, first put forth in the mid1960s, and published in book form in 1975, has had a radical effect on scientific views of evolution and the environment. The key insight of gaia theory is that the entire earth functions as a single living superorganism. James ephraim lovelock, ch cbe frs born 26 july 1919 is an independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist. The gaia theory posits that the earth is a selfregulating complex system involving the. But according to james lovelock, the theorys originator, that organism is now sick.
James lovelock is an independent scientist, inventor, and author. We feel that we belong here as if this planet were indeed our home. 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. James lovelock talks to david freeman about his book a rough ride to the future on 29 march at the ft weekend oxford literary festival at the oxford martin school. He argues that the anthropocene the age in which humans acquired planetaryscale technologies is, after 300 years, coming to an end. The man who achieved global fame for his theory that the whole earth is a single organism now believes that we can only hope that the earth will take care of itself in the face of completely unpredictable. The gaia hypothesis a, also known as the gaia theory or the gaia principle, proposes. James lovelock called his first proposal the gaia hypothesis but has also used the term gaia theory.
The man who achieved global fame for his theory that the whole earth is a single organism now believes that we can only hope that the earth will take care of itself in the face of completely. James lovelock, the man behind the gaia theory, thinks that climate change will wipe out most of us this century but there may be one way to save. Lovelock proposes radical theories that contrast markedly with traditional green thinking as well as forecasting in. Author of the gaia theory welcome to professor james lovelock s web site. 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 states that the initial formulation was based on observation, but still lacked a scientific explanation. James ephraim lovelock, ch cbe frs is an independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist. 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. James lovelock english chemist, doctor, and author britannica.
This book reminds me of a childrens book i had my mother read over and over to me when i was four years old. This suggests the biosphere is a selfregulating system after the development of an instrument in the late 1960s, lovelock was the first to detect the widespread presence of cfcs in the atmosphere. His gaia hypothesis has gained a tremendous following, though debate about it continues in the scientific and lay communities. The vanishing face of gaia audiobook by james lovelock. Lovelocks gaia theory states that, for much of the past 3. Green peace and other environmental groups have embraced. Lovelock 1995 gave evidence of this in his second book, showing the evolution from the world of the early. The coming age of hyperintelligence, argues that the anthropocene era of human influence over the planet is coming to. Outlines jim lovelocks original theory that life on earth functions as a single organism, a hypothesis which has generated great debate in scientific circles. He was elected fellow of the royal society in 1974 and in 1990 was awarded the first amsterdam prize for the environment by the royal netherlands academy of arts and sciences. This suggests the biosphere is a selfregulating system.
Readers new to this theory and book might do well to start in two places. He invented the electron capture detector, and using it, became the firs. In the vanishing face of gaia, british scientist james lovelock predicts global warming will lead to a hot epoch. Gaia a new look at life on earth james lovelock oxford landmark science. His methods were influential in the theories of cryonics. It is running a fever born of increased atmospheric greenhouse gases. A new look at life on earth oxford landmark science. Jul 29, 2019 the human race could be wiped out unless a way is found to fix climate change, a leading scientist has told sky news. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. They might if they feel like it, says the scientist james lovelock in his new book.
About the authors james lovelock, independent scientist, environmentalist, and futurist. Gaia meets ai cyborgs will save humanity, says james lovelock. It claims that all of the organic and inorganic components of earth are closely integrated to form a single and self. But, unusually for a scientist, books are his medium of choice. The book of gaia is a very interesting theory and if theory holds true the human race may survive afterall. I was introduced to lovelocks gaia theory many years ago, and although i went on to thinking about many other theories of life on earth, i never forgot gaia. The gaia theory was developed in the late 1960s by dr. And the theory of the living planet paperback april 30, 2005. The book is thought provoking and has been updated well in this edition, although the importance of chaos theory to support the gaia theory is not adequately explored. Apr 27, 2008 james lovelock, who developed his ideas about life regulating the earths environment in the 1960s earth is a perfect planet for life but, according to gaia theory, this is no coincidence. 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.
With a phd in medicine, lovelock began his career performing cryopreservation experiments on rodents, including successfully thawing frozen specimens. Gaia theory creator issues climate change warning youtube. As we try to assess lovelocks highly individualistic work and decide whether his message is worth listening to, there is not better guide than john and mary gribbins james lovelock. Scientist james lovelock is the man behind the gaia theory. Pdf james lovelock, gaia theory, and the rejection of. A new look at life on earth oxford landmark science new ed by lovelock, james isbn. How james lovelock introduced gaia to an unsuspecting.