Updates the Gaia hypothesis in the light of geochemical, geophysical, and paleontological data that was either ignored or unavailable at the time the hypothesis was developed.
David Schwartzman is a professor in the Department of Biology at Howard University. His research focuses on biogeochemistry, exobiology, and environmental science.
"Schwartzman's account of the current status of our ancient self-organizing biosphere helps reunite the arbitrary schism between biology and geology. As a modern, 'hard-science' natural history, this readable book that details the reciprocal effects of Earth's changing conditions, especially temperature, on life and its evolutionary history, fascinates. Highly original yet entirely responsible, this work will be of great interest especially to environmental scientists and their students."
– Lynn Margulis, Distinguished University Professor of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
"A scholarly work with a wealth of useful information and ideas that cut across the usual disciplinary boundaries. As such, the book will be of appeal to a broad range of specialists including terrestrial and aquatic ecologists, microbiologists, climatologists and geochemists."
– Ecoscience