#433 Timothy Lenton - Revolutions that Made the Earth
RECORDED ON DECEMBER 7th 2020.
Dr. Timothy Lenton is Professor of Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter and Director of the Global Systems Institute. He has over 20 years of research experience in studying the Earth as a system, and developing and using models to understand its behavior. He is particularly interested in how life has reshaped the planet in the past, and what lessons we can draw from this as we proceed to reshape the planet now. These topics are covered in his books ‘Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction’ (OUP, 2016) and (with Andrew Watson) ’Revolutions that Made the Earth’ (OUP, 2011).
In this episode, we talk about Revolutions that Made the Earth. We go through topics like: the intimate relationship between geology and life; the origins of life (in hydrothermal vents); what Dr. Lenton, in the book, calls the “critical steps” model of life; multicellular and complex life; the evolution of social life; culture; what is special about humans; the development of agriculture, and its impact on the planet; the Anthropocene, and when it started; new revolutions in the future; and if life on Earth was inevitable.
Time Links:
The intimate relationship between geology and life
The origins of life
The “critical steps” model of life
Multicellular life
Sociality
Culture
In what ways do humans differ from other animals?
Agriculture
The Anthropocene
New revolutions in the future
Should we expect life to be common in the Universe?
Was life on Earth inevitable?
Follow Dr. Lenton’s work!
Follow Dr. Lenton’s work:
Faculty page: https://bit.ly/39OCilO
Global Systems Institute: https://bit.ly/37DCrG6
Research works on ResearchGate: https://bit.ly/3qHEFNB
Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LfvvHK
Revolutions that Made the Earth: https://amzn.to/39Q0jcu