The Gaye Hypothesis

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

The gaye hypothesis is a way of challenging one view of darmanism, that life adapts to the environment. Jim had different versions of gyer at different times, and it remains hugely contentious. But overtime, several of the things that he had theorized were later proven to be true. As more evidence came out, that became a really established part of what we now call earth system science.

James Lovelock, the creator of the Gaia hypothesis, died last Tuesday on his 103rd birthday. Known as something of a maverick, the scientist and inventor was one of the most influential thinkers of the past century. Our global environment editor, Jonathan Watts, tells Madeleine Finlay about spending time with Lovelock for his forthcoming biography, the impact of the scientist’s ideas and inventions on the modern world, and how his immense influence will continue to be felt in the critical decades ahead. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod