The Privileged Planet

For years scientist such as the late Carl Sagan taught that conditions necessary for life - even complex, intelligent life - are so easily met that there must be millions and millions of Earth-like planets existing in the universe. However, recent advances in science are demonstrating that life demands very particular conditions which are quite difficult to meet. Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez in his book The Privileged Planet argues that our Earth is not an insignificant dust speck in an obscure corner of the universe. As a matter of fact he believes even our sun is unique, "anomalous" in its mass, light variability, galactic orbit, and composition. For life to exist you need a star with just the right concentrations of heavy elements - too much, and giant planets will form in the wrong places or with non-circular orbits; too little, and neither Earth nor Jupiter will form. Gonzalez believes our galaxy is atypical. (Our galaxy is among the 1 percent most luminous galaxies in the nearby universe.) His scientific conclusion is that Earth is a product of design! Life is no accident.

Raise or lower the universe's rate of expansion by even one part in a million, and it would have ruled out the possibility of life.

Change the tilt of the Earth's axis slightly in one direction and we would freeze. Change it the other direction and we would burn up.

Four astounding "coincidences" occurred to ensure that our atmosphere had the right amounts of carbon and oxygen. If the ratio of carbon to oxygen had been different than it is we would not be here.

If the distance between stars were different or planetary orbits different - life would not have occurred.

Earth if just a bit smaller or larger it could not support life.

Water: Striking ways in which it doesn't behave like other liquids do - each of its eccentricities makes it more useful for sustaining life.

Check out The Privileged Planet

September 5, 2007