ABSTRACT
James E. Lovelock's radical Gaia hypothesis as set out in his Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth has continued to live among contemporary scientists and academics as a provocative scientific topic. The Gaia theory is highly interdisciplinary, encompassing many disciplines ranging from astrobiology to ecology. Similarly, the idea of eco-spirituality, which connects the science of ecology with spirituality, has been inspired by Lovelock's work. The importance of the Gaia hypothesis in explaining several vital mechanisms operating at the planetary scale on the Earth has guaranteed its continuing relevance in modern science. But while it is now accepted gladly by some, it also continues to stimulate intense debate. Toby Tyrrell thinks that Gaia is big-picture science that offers answers to deep questions such as that of why the Earth has remained continuously habitable for so long. Second, it suggests mechanisms for how our planet can cope in the future as it continues to be affected by global warming.
