   |
 |
|
|
Peter Ward
Biography:
Peter Ward is Professor of Biology, a Professor of Earth and Space Sciences, and Adjunct Professor of Astronomy at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is Principal Investigator of the University of Washington node of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, which involves the leadership of over 25 scientists studying the probability of finding life beyond the Earth. He is also Senior Councilor of the Paleontological Society, and was awarded an Affiliate Professorship at the California Institute of Technology.
Past Shows:
 |
Extinctions & Climate Change |
| Sunday May 17, 2009 |
Live from Manila, Art Bell returned for a discussion with Prof. Peter Ward about his latest work on mass extinctions and the self destructive nature of our planet, as well as the possibility for life in our solar system and beyond. Saturn's moon Titan may harbor life, he said, but it's so cold there that life forms might be silicon rather carbon-based, and move at an extremely slow pace.
... More
Host: Art Bell
|
Earth: Extinctions & Climate |
| Wednesday March 12, 2008 |
Appearing during the first three hours, Prof. Peter Ward, the author of Under a Green Sky, discussed his latest work on hydrogen sulfide extinctions, and how we are creating the circumstances for extinctions in the future. His research has connected past mass extinctions and global warming. Greenhouse gases and the melting of the ice-caps could create a dangerous situation where the ocean currents stop circulating. The stagnation of the oceans' waters would lead to the thriving of a type of bacteria that produces hydrogen sulfide. Killing off life in the ocean and sending toxic gases into the atmosphere, hydrogen sulfide could actually turn the sky green, he noted. The coast off of Namibia is a hydrogen sulfide "hot spot" and the eruptions can be seen in this NASA satellite photo. Curiously, it has been found that hydrogen sulfide can have startling medical benefits, putting injured people into a kind of suspended animation until they can be treated. For more on hydrogen sul
... More
Host: George Noory
|
Greenhouse Extinctions |
| Saturday May 26, 2007 |
Professor of Earth and Space Sciences and Astrobiologist for NASA, Peter Ward (Book Link) discussed his vision of the end of the world based on past mass extinctions.
... More
Host: Art Bell
|
Climate & Extinction |
| Sunday October 15, 2006 |
Investigator for the NASA Astrobiology Institute, Prof. Peter Ward discussed his new book, Out of Thin Air, which shows how fluctuating oxygen levels have contributed to mass extinctions and evolutionary changes over millions of years. For instance, dinosaurs the size of chickens, flourished during a 20-million-year period of low oxygen-- it wasn't till oxygen levels grew higher that the larger dinosaurs developed, he explained. He cited the dangers of rising carbon dioxide levels as well as hydrogen sulfide, both of which could contribute to extinctions of life. Hydrogen sulfide is particularly insidious, he noted-- as oxygen levels drop, massive bacteria forms in ocean waters turning them into dead zones in which no fish or animal life can exist.A small asteroid hitting Earth could also wreak havoc on the planet, he said. It would send particulates into the atmosphere, throw off agricultural cycles and lead to massive famines.Ward reported that one of the biggest clim
... More
Host: Art Bell
|
Searching for Alien Life |
| Thursday November 3, 2005 |
Peter Ward, an investigator for the NASA Astrobiology Institute, discussed his new book Life as We Do Not Know It, which ponders the possible existence of alien life. Ward believes that scientists need to expand their classifications of what constitutes "life" and include such forms as viruses.He also argued that scientists should be open to the possibility that silicon or carbon-silicon bonds can generate lifeforms. Ward reviewed the likeliest places for life in our solar system: Mars—could likely have bacterial life but doubtful whether plants or higher forms are there. Venus-- might have a type of sulphuric acid-based life in its clouds. Jupiter's moon Europa—An exciting target, with its 100 mile deep ocean. Saturn's moon Titan—Contains lakes of methane that could foster carbon-silicon bonds which seem to work better at colder temperatures.Life on Titan would be the most alien imaginable, said Ward, who advocated for manned missions to explore there even though it w
... More
Host: George Noory
|
Extinctions & Climate Change |
| Sunday March 20, 2005 |
Prof. Peter Ward, the author of Gorgon, shared his research into mass extinctions and climate change. A "Great Dying" took place 250 million years ago, he said, that was brought about by global warming. Volcanic events in Siberia added more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making the temperature hotter but reducing the oxygen. The air became so thin during this time, that it would be like trying to breathe at a height of 17,000 ft., and he estimated that 90% of species died out. Computer modeling suggests that 100 years from now, an area such as Washington state will become warm enough for palm trees and crocodiles, said Ward. But beyond the discomfort of tropical weather in places not used to it, he warned that the greatest danger of global warming is that it could kick us into a reverse trend of glaciation (as written about in The Coming Global Superstorm).With the warming, fresh water will be threatened by the rise in sea level, leading to increased salinization and lo
... More
Host: Art Bell
|
Rare Earth Hypothesis |
| Saturday April 3, 2004 |
Paleontologist Peter Ward, the co-author of Rare Earth, discussed the hypothesis that complex life forms, such as our own, are relatively uncommon in the universe.
... More
Host: Art Bell
