In the 1960s the English scientist James Lovelock first came up with his idea of all life on Earth as one big superorganism that regulates its functions to optimise the atmospheric conditions of the planet and keep them in balance.
What started out as a vague idea, soon became – with the support of microbiologist Lynn Margulis – the Gaia Hypothesis. The scientific world was not impressed. And there were times when Lovelock was regarded as a sentimental New Age hippie, despite his enormous interdisciplinary skills.
Today Lovelock is widely regarded as one of Britain's most respected independent research scientists. His Gaia Theory of the Earth as a self-regulating system is accepted by most scientists.
James Lovelock Biography, Multitalented Inventor and Scientific Visionary
James Ephraim Lovelock was born on 26 July 1919 in Hertfordfordshire, England. After studying chemistry in Manchester he went to London to study medicine, which he finished with a PhD. His research brought him to the United States, where he worked at Yale and Harvard.
In the early 1960s he developed several instruments and detectors for NASA, that were later used to explore extraterrestrial atmospheres and planetary surfaces. During this time he conducted comparative studies of the Martian and Earth's atmosphere.
In the late 1960s Lovelock also invented the electron capture detector, which enabled scientists to detect the depletion of the ozone layer.
It was while working as a consultant for NASA that he developed his famous Gaia Hypothesis. Today he lives and works in Cornwall, England.
The Gaia Hypothesis, The Living Earth as a Self-Regulating Superorganism
Comparing the rather stable atmosphere of Mars to the chemically dynamic conditions of the Earth, James Lovelock decided to assay in detail how the complex system worked, that served as a base for life.
During the 1960s Lovelock found that biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere were integrated in a single system within which they interacted. The system balanced surface temperature, the condition of the atmosphere and the salt content of the oceans in order to keep a life-providing equilibrium. This included the effect of an increase of energy provided by the sun, which was evened out.
First calling it the earth feedback hypothesis, Lovelock looked for a more memorable name. His neighbour, author William Golding, suggested Gaia, the name of the Greek supreme goddess of Earth.
After publishing several articles on his new hypothesis in the 1970s, which were widely ignored, he published his first book Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth in 1979. While many mainstream biologists rejected the ideas, some environmentalists and climatologists found it convincing or it least interesting.
The Vanishing Face of Gaia, What Will Happen to the Earth and Mankind?
Since then Lovelock has been refining his hypothesis. As his many of his initial predictions have been proved to be true, Gaia has been upgraded from hypothesis to theory. Lovelock's followers might think this is still too far away from establishing Gaia as reality that is already happening and understanding the gloomy future mankind has to face.
His books The Ages of Gaia: A Biography of our Living Planet, The Revenge of Gaia: Why the Earth Is Fighting Back – and How We Can Still Save Humanity and finally in 2009 The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A Final Warning describe how humanity destroyed the self-regulating system, bringing life as it is now known to the brink of extermination.
While for some time Lovelock called for drastic measures to turn around the destruction process, he now claims that the greenhouse effect and what comes with it will be irreversible: rising sea-levels devouring land and cities, droughts and deserts making other vast areas inhabitable, increasingly extreme weather situations – and as a consequence high death tolls, climate refugees and hunger.
Proclaiming the Apocalypse, James Lovelock's Controversial Views
The Gaia Theory in its comprehensiveness appealed to the environmentalist movement, being a holistic approach, which in its more general statements could be grasped by non-scientific minds as well. But when it came to the conclusions Lovelock drew from his research, many a green activist begged to differ.
Lovelock is hugely in favour of nuclear power as the only solution not only to mankind's increasing energy needs, but also to keep Earth a – relatively – comfortable place for life. Renewable energy is nothing he believes in, as he does not think that it is possible to generate nearly enough energy. Kyoto Protocol and other efforts on a larger scale, laudable as they might be, come too late, he says.
Moreover he casts a critical view on people's attempts of sustainability or recycling. Not using plastic bags or planting a tree after traveling by plane are just a sham. Not surprisingly critics attack him by calling him cynical or relating to his advanced age being the reason for such heretical talk.
So what is his advice, now that mankind chose to comfortably turn a blind eye to Gaia's downfall? In a Guardian interview published on 1 March 2008 he concluded by suggesting: "Enjoy life while you can. Because if you're lucky it's going to be 20 years before it hits the fan."
More information:
- Homepage of James Lovelock
Renate Oetjens - Renate Oetjens has been publishing on the internet for more than 14 years. After working for several German publishing houses and AOL ...
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