Does life improve habitability? (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, May 04, 2016, 16:01 (3124 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: The article is certainly thought-provoking, but I don't see the chicken-and-egg scenario when it comes to the origin of life. Habitability means conditions suitable for life. It may well be that once there is life, it can change conditions in such a way that they will lead to new forms of life and “improve habitability” (which seems to have been the case here on Earth). But can life begin and survive in conditions unsuitable for life? That wouldn't make sense. No baffling chicken and egg scenario for me. Habitability first, then life, then improvement. - You are right, life has to start when the conditions allow it, but the author is correct when he points to the carbon cycle which requires the input of living organisms, but that simply expands habitability.