Gaia spore

Gaia spore is a subset of the Gaia hypothesis, the concept that Earth's ecosystems can be treated as a single unified organism. The Gaia spore concept states that Gaia can reproduce via space colonization. Despite the ecological damage caused by the emergence of human technology within Gaia, their emergence is seen as an essential part of Gaia's reproduction via spreading of earth's ecosystems to other planets. The Gaia spore concept is an explanation of the purpose of human industry within the broader Gaia-ecological value perspective. A typical Gaia spore would be a spaceship containing humans and other organisms travelling to another habitable location far away from Earth.
History
The Gaia spore theory was first conceived in 2007 by Robert Duinker to allow for reproduction, one of the basic requirements for Gaia to be meet the definition of an organism. Prior to that time, one of the key weaknesses identified in the Gaia theory was that it would not meet all of the requirements for consideration as an organism as it could not reproduce.
Theories
The Gaia spore concept is a tool to interpret the purpose of human technology within the Gaia framework which places significant value on helping to preserve and protect Earth's ecological systems. Such a Gaia-centric framework is antagonistic of human progress because of the increased ecological footprint and strain on Earth's ecosystems caused by increases in human population and technological development.

The Gaia spore theory provides context to answer the question "what is the value of human progress" from an ecological perspective.
Interpretation
The Gaia Spore concept can be interpreted on a number of different levels: technological, humanistic and moral.
From a technological perspective, the Gaia spore concept represents a number of engineering and scientific challenges. These challenges are largely being addressed by NASA in exploring other planets, searching for habitable planets beyond our solar system, spacecraft propulsion and human spaceflight. Specific technologies like life support systems and antimatter propulsion may be required to successfully develop the Gaia spore vessel.
From a humanistic perspective, the Gaia spore concept represents a critical insurance for humanity's survival. Well known Physicist Professor Stephen Hawking has warned that the human race must move to a planet beyond our Solar System to protect the future of the human species. (See Space and survival)
From a moral interpretation perspective, the Gaia spore concept has value in resolving the perceived conflict between ecological and humanistic value systems. Human activity which is necessary to sustain the economic wealth required for the development of the Gaia spore is seen as acceptable to Gaia as would be the physical hardship incurred in the process of reproduction by other living organisms. This framework provides a guideline for economic development but also environmental stewardship.
Technological challenges
Because of the complexity and interdependence of Earth's life forms, and the considerable distance to other habitable planets, there are a number of challenges to space colonization.
Gaia reproduction
Gaia is defined as a highly complex web of interactions between the five kingdoms of biology. Developing a biosphere which is capable of sustained survival is challenging, as shown by the results of the Biosphere 2 experiments which began in 1985 and had difficulty maintaining a balanced environment.
Potential Gaia progeny
Gliese 581 c is a "super-earth" extrasolar planet orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581. It appears to be the first terrestrial extrasolar planet discovered in the hypothetical habitable zone surrounding its star, where surface temperatures might maintain liquid water and therefore potentially be suitable for life as known on Earth. This makes it a hypothetically habitable location to support an earthlike ecology. The planet is astronomically close, at 20.4 light years (193 trillion km or 119 trillion miles) from Earth in the direction of the constellation of Libra. Its star is identified as Gliese 581 by its number in the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars; with respect to Earth it is the 87th closest star system. Gliese 581 c is the first extrasolar planet believed to possibly have a surface temperature similar to that of Earth. It is the smallest extrasolar planet around a main sequence star discovered to date. The planet is about 50 percent larger and five times heavier than Earth.
Gaia can recover from this as it has in the past from the other extinctions, but humanity may not. This strategy has the advantage of reducing the Gaia's exposure time to the risk of major non-anthropogenic extinction events but is dangerous in that it risks humanity's own life support system.
Marathon
A "Marathon" trajectory may also be possible. This strategy is a low ecological impact method of space colonization which is more ecologically sustainable and ultimately reaches a steady state which could allow multiple colonizations over time. This strategy would first involve reducing Humanity's impact on the Earth to a stable and sustainable level and then gradually developing the wealth required to build the Gaia spore. This strategy has the advantage of protecting Gaia's life support system but could put Gaia at a higher risk of non-anthropogenic extinction events
before reproduction.
Directed Panspermia
Possibly the lowest cost methodology for the reproduciton of Gaia, directed panspermia concerns the deliberate transport of microorganisms in space, sent to other planets to reproduce Gaia. Directed panspermia has been proposed as a possible origin of life on Earth. The disadvantage of this method is that it will likely take millions of years for complex life to evolve on other planets from simple microorganisms.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu