Life's Engines - How Microbes Made the Earth Habitable

Explore the microscopic world and discover how microbes shaped Earth's habitability in this 54-minute lecture by Distinguished Professor Paul G. Falkowski. Delve into topics such as solar energy conversion, the origin of species, microbial fossils, oxygen production, and the role of phytoplankton in seasonal cycles. Examine the importance of transition metals, electron transfers, and protein arrays in microbial processes. Investigate the significance of iron carbonate, iron rust, and hydrogen gas in Earth's history. Learn about the Terrestrial Planet Finder project and its rationale for exploring habitable worlds beyond our own. Gain insights into the fundamental role microbes play in sustaining life on Earth and their potential implications for discovering life elsewhere in the universe.

Intro
The Big Six
Solar Energy Conversion
The Origin of Species
The Discovery of Microbes
Microbes Fossils
How Microbes Produce Oxygen
Seasonal Cycles
phytoplankton
North American Crater
Wiring Diagram
Transition Metals
Simple Structures
Metals
Electron Transfers
Protein Arrays
Iron Carbonate
Iron Rust
Hydrogen Gas
Terrestrial Planet Finder
The Rationale
Research Development Phase