اینجا بر روی زمین: تاریخ طبیعی سیاره

Beginning at the moment of creation with the Big Bang, __Here on Earth__ explores the evolution of Earth from a galactic cloud of dust and gas to a planet with a metallic core and early signs of life within a billion years of being created. In a compelling narrative, Flannery describes the formation of the Earth’s crust and atmosphere, as well as the transformation of the planet’s oceans from toxic brews of metals (such as iron, copper, and lead) to life-sustaining bodies covering 70 percent of the planet’s surface. Life, Flannery shows, first appeared in these oceans in the form of microscopic plants and bacteria, and these metals served as catalysts for the earliest biological processes known to exist. From this starting point, Flannery tells the fascinating story of the evolution of our own species, exploring several early human species—from the diminutive creatures (the famed __hobbits__) who lived in Africa around two million years ago to __Homo erectus__—before turning his attention to __Homo sapiens__. Drawing on Charles Darwin’s and Alfred Russell Wallace’s theories of evolution and Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, __Here on Earth__ is a dazzling account of life on our planet. Beginning at the moment of creation with the Big Bang, Here on Earth explores the evolution of Earth from a galactic cloud of dust and gas to a planet with a metallic core and early signs of life within a billion years of being created. In a compelling narrative, Flannery describes the formation of the Earth’s crust and atmosphere, as well as the transformation of the planet’s oceans from toxic brews of metals (such as iron, copper, and lead) to life-sustaining bodies covering 70 percent of the planet’s surface. Life, Flannery shows, first appeared in these oceans in the form of microscopic plants and bacteria, and these metals served as catalysts for the earliest biological processes known to exist. From this starting point, Flannery tells the fascinating story of the evolution of our own species, exploring several early human species—from the diminutive creatures (the famed hobbits ) who lived in Africa around two million years ago to Homo erectus —before turning his attention to Homo sapiens . Drawing on Charles Darwin’s and Alfred Russell Wallace’s theories of evolution and Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, Here on Earth is a dazzling account of life on our planet. section 1: Mother Nature or monster earth? Evolution's motive force ; Of genes, mnemes and destruction ; Evolution's legacy ; A fresh look at earth ; The commonwealth of virtue section 2: A turbulent youth. Man the disrupter ; New worlds ; Biophilia section 3: Ever since agriculture. Superorganisms ; Superorganismic glue ; Ascent of the ultimate superorganism section 4: Toxic climax? War against nature ; Gaia-killers ; The eleventh hour? ; Undoing the work of ages section 5: Our present state. The stars of heaven ; Discounting the future ; Greed and the market ; Of war and inequality ; A new tool kit ; Governance ; Restoring the life-force section 6: An intelligent earth? What lies on the other side? An explorer and environmentalist offers a natural history of the Earth as well as a biography of the human species.