He is principal investigator of the university of washington node of the nasa astrobiology institute, which involves the leadership of over 25 scientists studying the probability of finding life beyond the earth. In the medea hypothesis, paleontologist peter ward reveals his own theory about the end of the world and its just about as depressing as you might imagine. Instead, we should accept the directly contrary notion. The medea hypothesis is a term coined by ward for the antigaian hypothesis that multicellular life, understood as a superorganism, is suicidal. The earth is not the nurturing mother of life of james lovelocks famous theory instead it is far more like murderous medea, argues biologist peter ward. The medea hypothesis is a term coined by paleontologist peter ward for the antigaian hypothesis that multicellular life, understood as a superorganism, is suicidal. Ward is also researching speciation patterns and ecology of the living cephalopods nautilus and sepia. A final field of research is examining the stratigraphic history of west. Inthe medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist peter ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of lifes relationship with the earths biosphereone that has frightening implications for our future, yet also offers hope.
Peter ward, author of the medea hypothesis, you told us you kind of told us real quickly about some of the mass extinctions that have. Peter ward in the medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist peter ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of lifes relationship with the earths biosphereone that has frightening implications for our future, yet also. In greek mythology, medea is the woman who murdered her own children in despair. He has written numerous popular science works for a general audience and is also an adviser to the microbes mind forum. Ward, a professor at the university of washington, calls this the medea hypothesis, named for the murderous mother of greek mythology. Dec 20, 20 peter ward january 25, 2010 since his ph. When avid science readers browse the shelves for new titles, the books that grab their attention are best described by a single adjective.
In 2009 ward wrote a book about this hypothesis under the same name. Asteroid strikes get all the coverage, but medea hypothesis author peter ward argues that most of earths mass extinctions were caused by lowly bacteria. Paleontologist peter ward explains what we can learn from previous mass. In the medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist peter ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of lifes relationship with the earths biosphere one that has frightening implications for our future, yet also offers hope. This stands in stark contrast to james lovelocks gaia. In the medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist peter ward prop. Peter ward, a paleontologist at the university of washington and coauthor with don brownlee of rare earth. It is a direct challenge to scientist and futurist james lovelocks gaia hypothesis, which asserts that life constantly tweaks the dials on earths control systems to keep the planet in a nice, habitable. In the medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist dr. The monsters that ruled the planet before dinosaurs and how they died in the greatest catastrophe in earths history, and more on. Medea, jasons wife, was probably the worst mother in greek.
None of the apocalyptic disasters and villains hollywood has imagined can compare to what peter ward argues is the real killer. Using the latest discoveries from the geological record, h. In the medea hypothesis, author and university of washington professor peter ward presents an alternative to the good mother earth gaia. Feb 12, 2010 but now, peter ward, a noted paleontologist at the university of washington, seattle, has put forth a compelling counter hypothesis with an equally prestigioussounding greek appellation. Peter ward is currently examining the nature of the cretaceoustertiary extinction event with studies in france and spain involving detailed field work which concentrates on ammonites and bivalves. The medea hypothesis by peter ward overdrive rakuten. Ward is an expert on mass extinctions, and the subject seems to have infected his general outlook. Peter wards many books include the highly acclaimed rare earth. But now, peter ward, a noted paleontologist at the university of washington, seattle, has put forth a compelling counterhypothesis with an equally prestigioussounding greek appellation.
Enter peter ward, palaeontologist, popular author and expert on mass extinctions. Ward, a professor at the university of washington and an astrobiologist for nasa, coined the term medea hypothesis as a dissenting scientific. Why complex life is uncommon in the universe, and gorgon. Press release peter ward breathtaking in scope, the medea hypothesis is certain to arouse fierce debate and radically transform our worldview.
Hence another label the medea hypothesis, for the tragic greek heroine who murdered her children. Basically, there are only two ways how life on earth could end. Ward laid out the argument that life as we know it serves to make earth less habitablea downward spiral that might spell the eventual end of life. Jun 17, 2009 the earth is not the nurturing mother of life of james lovelocks famous theory instead it is far more like murderous medea, argues biologist peter ward. In a new book, the medea hypothesis, biologist peter ward says we humans are about to be murdered ourselves, in a. Using the latest discoveries from the geological record, he argues that life might be its own worst enemy. Readers of the medea hypothesis may also enjoy discovering other books by peter ward featured at the science shelf. May, 20 asteroid strikes get all the coverage, but medea hypothesis author peter ward argues that most of earths mass extinctions were caused by lowly bacteria. In the medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist peter ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of lifes relationship with the earths biosphereone that has frightening implications for our future, yet also offers hope. Peter ward is professor of biology, a professor of earth and space sciences, and adjunct professor of astronomy at the university of washington in seattle.
But first, ward sets up the pointcounterpoint debate that is the basis for the book by discussing the finer points of the gaia hypothesis, first popularized by james lovelock in the 1970s. Oct 21, 2011 peter ward, a paleontologist at the university of washington and coauthor with don brownlee of rare earth. The medea hypothesis, 2009, princeton university press, was listed by the new york times as one of the 100 most important ideas of 2009. The medea hypothesis your book the medea hypothesis, which proposes that life is.
May 10, 2009 in the medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist dr. The metaphor refers to the mythological medea representing the earth, who. In this view, microbialtriggered mass extinctions are attempts to return the earth to the microbialdominated state it has been for most of its history. In the medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist peter ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of lifes relationship with the earths biosphere. The medea hypothesis is life on earth ultimately selfdestructive.
At various times, life on earth has come close to being erased. Cos gaia hypothesisthat life sustains habitable conditions on earth. My view of life on earth has been updated considerably after reading peter ward s the medea hypothesis. The medea hypothesis is a term coined by paleontologist peter ward for the anti gaian hypothesis that multicellular life, understood as a superorganism. Peter douglas ward is a paleontologist and professor of biology and of earth and space sciences at. My answer after wading through it is that i am not really sure. Jan, 2010 paleontologist peter ward s medea hypothesis. He calls it the medea hypothesis, after the legendary figure who killed her own children. Wards book is a crucial step in opening this debate and i would certainly recommend reading it, but with a critical eye open for. By adam frank peter ward, a paleontologist at the university of washington, is nothing if not provocative. I thought up something tongueincheek i call the medea hypothesis. Science essentials medea hypothesis is life on earth. There is a killer on the loose capable of planetaryscale catastrophe, he writes.
In the medea hypothesis, renowned paleontologist peter ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of lifes relationship with the. Ward, a professor at the university of washington and an astrobiologist for nasa, coined the term medea hypothesis as a dissenting scientific perspective to james lovelocks popular gaia hypothesis. The medea hypothesis is a term coined by paleontologist peter ward for the antigaian hypothesis that multicellular life, understood as a superorganism. Here, ward proposes an important alternative interpretation of events over earths history, that life is not inherently regulative, but destabilising. Peter ward is a palaeontologist who here proposes the opposite, that life by its actions works to its own detriment, even to the extent of its own mass destruction. My view of life on earth has been updated considerably after reading peter wards the medea hypothesis. The culprit, a poison called hydrogen sulfide, may have an interesting application in medicine. The medea hypothesis is an interesting intellectual exercise on the history of life. Ward, a professor at the university of washington, calls this the medea hypothesis.
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