Peter Ward (paleontologist)

Peter D. Ward
Peter D. Ward
Born	Peter Douglas Ward; May 12, 1949; Seattle, United States of America
Nationality	American
Known for	co-originator of the term Rare Earth; work on the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event
	Scientific career
Fields	Paleontology, Biology, Astrobiology

Peter Douglas Ward (born May 12, 1949^[3]) is an American paleontologist and professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, and Sprigg Institute of Geobiology at the University of Adelaide. He has written numerous popular science works for a general audience and is also an adviser to the Microbes Mind Forum.^[4] In 2000, along with his co-author Donald E. Brownlee, he co-originated the term Rare Earth^[1] and developed the Medea hypothesis alleging that multicellular life is ultimately self-destructive.^[5]

^ ^a ^b Matt Williams (29 July 2020). "Beyond "Fermi's Paradox" IV: What is the Rare Earth Hypothesis?". Universe Today. Retrieved 6 June 2021. Origins: The term "Rare Earth" takes its name from the book Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe (2000), by Peter Ward and Donald E. Brownlee ... As the authors describe it, the Rare Earth argument comes down to two central hypotheses ... making Earth a very special place
^ Cite error: The named reference dietrich was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Peter Ward" (PDF). Save the Nautilus. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^ "Advisers, Microbe Mind Forum". Archived from the original on 2014-02-28.
^ Cite error: The named reference DarkGreen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Williams2020-07-29-01a-1] Matt Williams (29 July 2020). "Beyond "Fermi's Paradox" IV: What is the Rare Earth Hypothesis?". Universe Today. Retrieved 6 June 2021. Origins: The term "Rare Earth" takes its name from the book Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe (2000), by Peter Ward and Donald E. Brownlee ... As the authors describe it, the Rare Earth argument comes down to two central hypotheses ... making Earth a very special place

[dietrich-2] Cite error: The named reference dietrich was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[3] "Peter Ward" (PDF). Save the Nautilus. Retrieved 3 August 2023.

[4] "Advisers, Microbe Mind Forum". Archived from the original on 2014-02-28.

[DarkGreen-5] Cite error: The named reference DarkGreen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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Peter D. Ward
Born	Peter Douglas Ward May 12, 1949 Seattle, United States of America
Nationality	American
Known for	co-originator of the term Rare Earth^[1] work on the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event^[2]
Scientific career
Fields	Paleontology, Biology, Astrobiology