tists measured and compared other planets' atmospheric gas contents and their proportions to each other. This comparison yielded to the conclusion that life did not exist on planets other than Earth. The reasoning behind this is that Earth's atmospheric gasses in their proportion are not chemically balanced unless they are constantly being manipulated. Other planets' atmospheric gasses maintained a balanced proportion. The account for this difference is life. Life was now seen as maintaining the planet versus what was previously rationalized that life adapts to the conditions of the planet. "According to Lovelock, the geophysiologist sees life as a system open to the flux of matter and energy, but that maintains an internal steady-state." (Oceans, p.3). The Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and soil, provide the Earth's basic components, which work together to maintain precise physical and chemical balance. "Through Gaia, the Earth sustains a kind of homeostasis, the maintenance of relatively constant conditions." (Oceans, p.1). There are many scientifically proven facts about the Earth's functions which respond to the Gaia Hypothesis. One such function is that the Earth maintains a regulated temperature. There is a balanced proportion of water versus land. Water holds in heat the same way that dry land expels it. There is also a balance of dark versus light colors in nature. Dark colors tend to absorb heat and lighter colors tend to repel it. More complexly, as light and heat from the sun accelerate phytoplankton or plants, these phytoplankton create material necessary to formulate clouds. Clouds act as a shade to the sun's heat. Also, phytoplankton are responsible for the current abundance of oxygen. There was a time when there was almost no oxygen on Earth. Since the Gaia Hypothesis states that life formulates the planet, this fact deems critical in proving this statement valid. Phytoplankton started the abun...
