English scientist James E. Lovelock wrote Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth for the general public, not for scientists. Scientists read it anyway, and rejected it, likely in part for its unapologetic use of mythological imagery.

But there is a lot of science in this 1979 work. Lovelock says the Earth (Gaia) is a superorganism, made up of all living things, interacting with the air, the oceans, and the surface rocks of the planet. He suggests Gaia takes an active role in keeping the planet safe for life, with automatic feedback mechanisms making adjustments as needed. Lovelock describes feedback mechanisms that are widely accepted. It is the implication that Gaia is somehow self-aware that is controversial.

Lovelock was an early voice in the global warming debate, warning that the feedback mechanisms can be overwhelmed. Gaia and his later books have been widely debated and researched, giving rise to a new, multidisciplinary academic field known as Earth system science.

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