Carbon cycling: How much life has ever existed on Earth?

Michael A Kipp

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.041

Carbon cycling: How much life has ever existed on Earth?

Curr Biol. 2023 Nov 6;33(21):R1153-R1155. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.041.

Author

Michael A Kipp¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Division of Earth and Climate Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 37935129
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.041

Abstract

Carbon has cycled through Earth's biosphere for billions of years. New work estimates that life has recycled the equivalent of almost 100 times the Earth's entire carbon reservoir through the biosphere. This highlights life's global impact, providing a benchmark for habitable planets.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Carbon
Carbon Cycle
Earth, Planet*
Exobiology*
Planets

Substances

Carbon