Gaia: A New Look at Life on EarthOUP Oxford, 28 wrz 2000 - 176 In this classic work that continues to inspire many readers, Jim Lovelock puts forward his idea that the Earth functions as a single organism. Written for non-scientists, Gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence in support of a radically different model of our planet. In contrast to conventional belief that life is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the Earth's living matter influences air, ocean, and rock to form a complex, self-regulating system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life. Since Gaia was first published, Jim Lovelock's hypothesis has become a hotly debated topic in scientific circles. In a new Preface to this edition, he outlines his view of the present state of the debate. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think. |
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Strona 2
... energy , it can be precisely expressed in mathematical terms . It has been the bane of generations of students and is direfully associated in many minds with decline and decay , since its expression in the Second Law of Thermodynamics ...
... energy , it can be precisely expressed in mathematical terms . It has been the bane of generations of students and is direfully associated in many minds with decline and decay , since its expression in the Second Law of Thermodynamics ...
Strona 4
... energy taken in from the environment and subsequently rejected in a degraded form . This definition is not only difficult to grasp but is far too general to apply to the specific detection of life . A rough paraphrase might be that life ...
... energy taken in from the environment and subsequently rejected in a degraded form . This definition is not only difficult to grasp but is far too general to apply to the specific detection of life . A rough paraphrase might be that life ...
Strona 5
... energy or raw materials is put to work and entropy is consequently reduced , and the surrounding environment which receives the discarded waste products . It also suggests that life - like processes require a flux of energy above some ...
... energy or raw materials is put to work and entropy is consequently reduced , and the surrounding environment which receives the discarded waste products . It also suggests that life - like processes require a flux of energy above some ...
Strona 13
... energy to contrive some further action which would otherwise have been impossible or forbidden by the laws of physics . ( The ancient Greek myth of Prometheus stealing fire from heaven and the biblical story of Adam and Eve tasting the ...
... energy to contrive some further action which would otherwise have been impossible or forbidden by the laws of physics . ( The ancient Greek myth of Prometheus stealing fire from heaven and the biblical story of Adam and Eve tasting the ...
Strona 15
... energy stored from that fierce fire of long ago . The Earth's present stock of uranium contains only 0.72 per cent of the dangerous isotope U235 . From this figure it is easy to calculate that about four aeons ago the uranium in the ...
... energy stored from that fierce fire of long ago . The Earth's present stock of uranium contains only 0.72 per cent of the dangerous isotope U235 . From this figure it is easy to calculate that about four aeons ago the uranium in the ...
Spis treści
1 | |
12 | |
3 The recognition of Gaia | 30 |
4 Cybernetics | 44 |
5 The contemporary atmosphere | 59 |
6 The sea | 78 |
the problem of pollution | 100 |
8 Living within Gaia | 115 |
9 Epilogue | 133 |
Definitions and explanations of terms | 143 |
Further reading | 147 |
Inne wydania - Wyświetl wszystko
Gaia:A New Look at Life on Earth: A New Look at Life on Earth James Lovelock Podgląd niedostępny - 2000 |
Kluczowe wyrazy i wyrażenia
acid activity aeons amount animals appeared areas atmosphere become biological biosphere called capacity carbon dioxide cause cent chapter chemical chloride complex components compounds concentration consequences consider constant continue course creatures cybernetic early Earth effect electric elements energy environment equilibrium essential evidence example existence fact fire forces function Gaia Gaian gases happen heat human hydrogen idea important increase industrial keep land layer least less limits living Mars material matter means measure methane methyl million natural nitrogen oceans organisms oven oxide oxygen ozone perhaps planet pollution positive possible potential present probably problem production quantities reducing regions regulation rocks salinity salt scale scientific scientists seems space species substances suggested sulphur supply surface temperature things thought tion