2001: Astrobiology (Knoll)

One of the three major questions which Astrobiology seeks to answer is "What is the Future of Life?" Toward that goal, we need to consider not only how Earth- based life might survive in space or on some other planet, but also, and perhaps more importantly, we need to plan for the future and survival of life on our home planet.

According to Andy Knoll, that future hangs in the balance. Knoll, esteemed paleontologist, and Myers, renowned conservation biologist, published a colloquium paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last year entitled, "The Biotic Crisis and the Future of Evolution." First presented at the National Academy of Sciences Colloquium, "The Future of Evolution," in March 2000, the paper outlines what the authors call 'the biotic crisis' and its potential effect on our planet - not only a possible major extinction event, but also a disruption of basic evolutionary processes, the consequences of which are wholly unpredictable.

In this August 2001 interview, Dr Andrew Knoll shared his perspective on the subject - calling the issues into scientific consciousness, and reminding us all of why we need to value and protect diversity not only for our own sake, but for that of the planet and of future generations as well.

Credit: NASA/Daniella Scalice

Category:

Science & Technology

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• iaf
• 2001
• space
• nasa
• astrobiology
• knoll