Short Wave Earth Is More Than A Planet With Life On It. It's A "Living Planet"
17 snips
Jun 24, 2024 
Ferris Jabr, a science writer and author of "Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life," discusses the Amazon rainforest's role in generating its own rain through biological processes. He shares insights on how life transforms the planet, from altering weather patterns to influencing the atmosphere. Jabr emphasizes viewing Earth as a living system, highlighting the interconnectedness of all life and our ethical responsibilities towards it. His narrative illustrates the intricate relationships that define our environment and the urgent need for action to restore ecological balance.
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Earth as a Living Entity
- Life on Earth isn't just an inhabitant; it's an extension of the planet itself, shaping and being shaped by it.
- Earth's resilience and ability to endure for billions of years suggest it functions as a self-regulating living system.
Bacteria and Rain
- Microbes like Pseudomonas syringi can influence weather patterns by seeding clouds and ice crystals.
- These microbes act as ice nucleators, even used in artificial snowmaking on ski slopes.
Life Dyed the Sky Blue
- Early Earth had a hazy orange sky due to a lack of free oxygen.
- Life, through photosynthesis, oxygenated the atmosphere, scattering blue wavelengths of light and turning the sky blue.
