Gaia hypothesis

Definition

Concept (accepted more as a metaphor than a 'fact') that the Earth is not just a clump of rock and water but a self-regulating giant cell capable of adjusting to small and big changes and catastrophes in an 'intelligent' and holistic manner. It states that the Earth copes with both incremental changes and sudden impacts by altering the planetary environment by involving the mutual interaction of biological and geological processes. Postulated in 1968 by the UK scientist Dr. James E. Lovelock (1919-) who in 1957 invented the Electron Capture Detector used in detecting trace quantities of hazardous substances in the environment such as chlorofluorocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. Gaia was the ancient Greek goddess of the Earth.