Adam Frank, professor of physics at the University of Rochester in New York, has come up with a novel theory that he believes could serve as a guide on how to better understand how humans impact the Earth, and could also aid in the search for aliens. Seemingly, Frank is deeply concerned about climate change and laments that, “We don’t yet have the ability to communally respond in the best interest of the planet.” According to Frank, his theory “unites what we need to know to survive the climate crisis with what might happen on any planet where life and intelligence evolve.” He believes that pursuing this line of thinking can help humans better understand their impact on the Earth, serve as a guide on how to better it, and use those insights to search for life on other planets that have the same kinds of patterns.
Frank, and his colleagues, have published a paper exploring this topic and had it published in the International Journal of Astrobiology. Their theory presents the concept of “planetary intelligence” – which is touted to describe the collective knowledge and cognition of an entire planet. Their research has posed the question, “If a planet like Earth can be alive, can it also have a mind of its own?”
Now this guy has a PhD in physics. He is, supposedly, a scientist. Now it is certainly the job of scientists to ask probing questions for the purpose of finding the answers to mysteries that exist in the natural universe. And in order to explore areas that are still a mystery, it is sometimes necessary for them to ask what seem to be outlandish questions in order to explore possibilities no one else has thought about before.
But there are limitations to the kinds of questions scientists are permitted to ask. Science is strictly limited to (Click here to continue reading)