We tend to think of intelligence as something that only describes a person. But all kinds of groups can also be called intelligent — whether we’re talking about social groups of people, insect nests, or even the mysterious behavior of slime molds viruses.
Can intelligence, more broadly, be observed on a much larger scale—perhaps an entire planet? In a newly published research paper, a team of space scientists investigate this puzzling question and come to some surprising conclusions about our planet.
“The open question is whether or not intelligence can operate at the planetary scale, and if so, how the transition to planetary-scale intelligence can occur and whether it has already happened or is on our short-term horizon.” The team writes.
They note that understanding this question can help us direct the future of our planet; However, by their own standards, it looks like we’re not there yet.
“We do not yet have the capability to collectively respond in the best interests of the planet,” say Astrophysicist Adam Frank from the University of Rochester.
“There is intelligence on earth, but no planetary intelligence.”
According to researchers, the emergence of technological intelligence on a planet – a common reference point in astrobiological research – probably shouldn’t be seen as something happening. An planet but to Planet.
In such an interpretation, the development of planetary intelligence would represent the acquisition and application of a collective body of knowledge operating simultaneously and harmoniously in a complex system of different types for the benefit or support of the entire biosphere.
Unfortunately – and obviously – man and earth are not there yet.
In fact, Frank and his colleagues state that we have only reached level three of the hypothetical timeline for the development of planetary intelligence.
In the first stage, characteristic of the very early Earth, a planet with an “immature biosphere” develops life, but there are insufficient feedback loops between life and geophysical processes for the co-evolution of different types of life.
In the second stage, the “mature biosphere” emerged.
After that, the planet could become the third stage: the “immature technical shell” that the earth is currently in. At this point, technological activity has developed on the planet, but it has not been sustainably integrated with other systems such as the physical environment.
However, if these tensions can be resolved, the immature technological sphere has a chance to evolve into the final phase: the “mature technical sphere” in which feedback loops between technological activity and other biogeochemical and biophysical states function simultaneously to ensure maximum stability and productivity complete system.
The researchers argue that the Earth should reach this ideal state.
“Planets evolve through immature and mature stages, and planetary intelligence indicates the time when you reach a mature planet,” Frank says.
“The million-dollar question is what planetary intelligence looks like and what it means for us in practice because we don’t yet know how to move to a mature technosphere.”
According to the researchers, we are currently sitting on the brink of a precipice where it is clear that our collective actions have global consequences, but we do not yet control those consequences.
If we, along with the other forces on this planet, can develop a balance in which these consequences are controlled, we can eventually – as a planet – evolve to the next level.
“The transition to planetary intelligence, as we describe it here, will have the hallmark of intelligence operating on a planetary scale,” The researchers write in their paper.
“Such a planetary intelligence would be able to guide Earth’s future evolution by working in concert with planetary systems and being guided by a deep understanding of those systems.”
The paper appeared in International Journal of Astrobiology.