April 3, 2004: Rare Earth Hypothesis - Peter Ward

Art Bell is joined by University of Washington professor Peter Ward, author of Rare Earth, who argues that while microbial life may be common throughout the universe, complex multicellular life is extraordinarily uncommon. Ward explains that building anything beyond bacteria requires a planet to maintain stable conditions for billions of years, a feat most worlds fail to achieve. Ward outlines the critical role of plate tectonics as Earth's thermostat, describing how the weathering of granite… Full show notes & guests: https://artbellarchive.org/episode/april-3-2004-rare-earth-hypothesis-peter-ward