Medea hypothesis
E702870
The Medea hypothesis is a scientific concept proposing that life on Earth, rather than stabilizing the environment, tends to be self-destructive and may ultimately drive itself toward extinction.
Statements (37)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Gaia hypothesis counterpoint
ⓘ
ecological hypothesis ⓘ scientific hypothesis ⓘ |
| addresses |
long-term coevolution of life and environment
ⓘ
role of life in mass extinctions ⓘ stability of planetary habitability ⓘ |
| appliesTo | life on Earth ⓘ |
| comparedWith | Gaia hypothesis in scientific literature ⓘ |
| conceptualizes | life as a destabilizing planetary force ⓘ |
| concerns |
interaction between biological evolution and environmental change
ⓘ
self-limiting nature of biospheres ⓘ |
| contrastsWith | Gaia hypothesis NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| field |
Earth system science
ⓘ
astrobiology ⓘ ecology ⓘ |
| focusesOn | biosphere-driven environmental destabilization ⓘ |
| implies |
biospheres may have finite lifetimes set by self-destruction
ⓘ
complex life may be vulnerable to biotically driven crises ⓘ |
| isPartOf |
debate on life–environment feedbacks
ⓘ
discussion of planetary self-regulation ⓘ |
| languageOfName | English NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| nameAlludesTo | mythological figure Medea who killed her own children ⓘ |
| namedAfter | Medea NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| opposesView | life as inherently stabilizing for the environment ⓘ |
| originCountry |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| proposes |
life may ultimately drive itself toward extinction
ⓘ
life on Earth is fundamentally self-destructive ⓘ life tends to destabilize its own environment ⓘ |
| relatesTo |
Earth system feedbacks
ⓘ
climate regulation by life ⓘ mass extinction events ⓘ planetary feedback mechanisms ⓘ |
| suggests |
biotic processes can create conditions hostile to life
ⓘ
evolutionary processes do not necessarily favor long-term habitability ⓘ life can trigger mass extinction events ⓘ |
| usedIn |
models of long-term Earth system evolution
ⓘ
theoretical discussions of exoplanet biospheres ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.