Global Thanatos

 

Is life ultimately self-destructive? A scary idea put forward by Peter Ward about 12 years ago, known as the Medea Hypothesis. Not sure about its current scientific standing, if it ever had any. Ward also co-authored the controversial book "Rare Earth". The third link goes to a scathing criticism of the Medea scenario, from a supporter of Lovelock´s Gaia Hypothesis.  

Peter Ward´s TED lecture

The Medea Hypothesis: An Answer to the Gaia Hypothesis

Gaia theory: Reflections on life on Earth