| Description |
1 online resource (xxii, 180 pages) : illustrations. |
| Physical Medium |
polychrome |
| Description |
text file |
| Series |
Science essentials
|
|
Science essentials (National Academy of Sciences (U.S.))
|
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 157-172) and index. |
| Contents |
Darwinian life -- What is evolutionary "success"? -- Two hypotheses about the nature of life on earth -- Medean feedbacks and global processes -- Medean events in the history of life -- Humans as medeans -- Biomass through time as a test -- Predicted future trends of biomass -- Summation -- Environmental implications and courses of action -- What must be done. |
| Summary |
In The Medea Hypothesis, renowned paleontologist Peter Ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of life's relationship with the Earth's biosphere--one that has frightening implications for our future, yet also offers hope. Using the latest discoveries from the geological record, he argues that life might be its own worst enemy. This stands in stark contrast to James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis--the idea that life sustains habitable conditions on Earth. In answer to Gaia, which draws on the idea of the "good mother" who nurtures life, Ward invokes Medea, the mythical mother who kille. |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Subject |
Extinction (Biology)
|
|
Extinction (Biology) |
|
Environmental geology.
|
|
Environmental geology. |
|
Historical geology.
|
|
Historical geology. |
|
Life (Biology)
|
|
Life (Biology) |
|
Evolution (Biology)
|
|
Evolution (Biology) |
|
Catastrophes (Geology)
|
|
Catastrophes (Geology) |
| Genre/Form |
Electronic books.
|
|
Electronic books.
|
| Other Form: |
Print version: Ward, Peter Douglas, 1949- Medea hypothesis. Princeton : Princeton University Press, ©2009 9780691130750 0691130752 (DLC) 2008056066 (OCoLC)276340725 |
| ISBN |
9781400829880 (electronic book) |
|
1400829887 (electronic book) |
|
1282158228 |
|
9781282158221 |
|
9780691130750 |
|
0691130752 |
|
