Earth's Miracle: The Unseen Wonders That Sustain Us

Click here to read Part 1 of the article.

The astronauts of Apollo 17 were awe-struck upon witnessing Earth from outer space for the first time. They realized how prominent Earth stands out amidst the vast emptiness, dubbing it "The Blue Marble."

Many researchers once believed that with billions of planets in the universe, it must teem with life. This led to the SETI project investing millions in searching for intelligent extraterrestrial life, only to be disappointed after 40 years without a single radio signal to prove it.

As science progressed, numerous precise conditions needed for life have been uncovered, illustrating the deliberate design and creation of Earth. The number of required conditions surpasses 50, with ongoing discoveries highlighting our world's rarity.

In 2000, astronomer and astrobiologist Donald Brownlee, alongside geologist and paleontologist Peter Ward, published a scientific book titled "Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe." The book is comprehensive, containing over twenty pages of references and scientific sources. It relies on updated research and cutting-edge findings, examining data from astrophysics, chemistry, geology, and biology that collectively suggest our world is unparalleled in the universe, perhaps even "impossible." Although the authors don't explicitly state creation by a Creator, this conclusion is implied throughout their work.

In the "Blue Pearl" series, I have used findings from this book to showcase some of the amazing and precise conditions Hashem established on Earth for our existence.

Despite these facts, NASA occasionally claims to discover Earth-like planets elsewhere in the universe. Most readers don't realize these claims are based solely on speculation, as reaching or photographing these stars is currently impossible. Hence, there is no scientific proof of another life-supporting planet.

All images are artificially simulated, based on fragmented data that can't predict the actual state of a distant planet, which may lack water (regardless of its temperature), an atmosphere, tectonic plates, or a proper rotational axis, among myriad other conditions necessary for life.

This article presents seven additional examples:

1. Water:

Earth's water volume must be reasonable. Too little water will prevent phenomena like evaporation and rain, while too much (a planet without land) would result in an unstable atmosphere unsuitable for life.

2. The Atmosphere:

One of the essential factors for life on Earth is its atmosphere—a highly dense layer of air reaching approximately 220 miles above the Earth's surface, which regulates the critical heat balance necessary for life. It naturally sends warm air to colder regions and cool air to hotter ones. The atmosphere is an active heat-regulating mechanism, enabling life's sustainability.

Even after Jupiter's "asteroid filtering" (explained in the previous article, section 7), smaller rocks enter Earth at tremendous speeds from outer space, which could disrupt life. However, their friction with the dense atmosphere heats them to thousands of degrees, burning them upon entry. Thus, the atmosphere also serves as a physical shield from foreign object intrusion.

3. Tectonic Plates:

The existence of an atmosphere is subjected to a delicate balance of components required for life on Earth. Without water vapor from oceans, carbon, and salts, clouds couldn't form, and the heat couldn't be regulated efficiently. Surprisingly, even tectonic plates are essential for atmospheric stability. These plates, composing Earth's deepest crust, create a complex feedback reaction that ultimately keeps greenhouse gas levels stable. Such a tectonic system hasn't been found on any other planet or moon within our solar system—it's rare but necessary.

4. The Ozone Layer:

One crucial atmospheric component is the ozone layer, which blocks the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. Without this filter, UV radiation would cause cancerous mutations and life depletion. Yet, if it were only slightly thicker, it would absorb too much of the sun's necessary radiation, rendering life impossible.

5. Oxygen:

Oxygen is vital for breathing and sustaining life. Without it, neither plants nor animals could exist. It constitutes about 21% of the atmosphere's volume and returns there through photosynthesis in marine and terrestrial vegetation. During photosynthesis, plants utilize carbon dioxide and release oxygen essential for animal breathing, which, in turn, exhale carbon dioxide back out!

Similarly, in water, the process occurs as aquatic plants absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide, creating sugars for themselves through photosynthesis. An invaluable byproduct of this is the oxygen dissolved in the water, crucial for fish respiration. Fish absorb it and emit carbon dioxide, which plants use for photosynthesis. This incredible natural cycle enables oxygen's production, supporting life on Earth.

6. Oxygen Levels:

The oxygen cycle is interlinked with the carbon and water cycles, and any changes in one could affect the others.

If oxygen levels were below 20%, life couldn't sustain itself. Conversely, higher levels (like 50%) would create a hazardous condition where any flame, lightning strike, or fire would spread uncontrollably, fueled by oxygen, incessantly burning everything flammable. Even a match strike could devastate all forests and combustible materials.

If more trees existed, the world would have excessive oxygen, whereas if animal populations grew, there'd be too little. What maintains their delicate balance? The atmosphere stabilizes them. The oxygen and carbon cycles are stabilizing factors in determining atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations. This system appears increasingly complex with deeper scientific scrutiny.

(It begs the question of why carbon dioxide or oxygen exists in the universe at all. Without designed laws, the universe would be an empty void, lacking nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, and other essential gases for our survival).

7. Resource Amounts:

Around 800 years ago, the Rambam identified another significant point in Earth's design: resource quantities are tailored to human needs. Oxygen is most abundant because humans need it for survival. Water follows, allowing for the water cycle and necessary hydration. Next are fruit trees and grains, requiring human effort for food preparation. Humans find materials for building homes, demanding greater effort. Metals appear in smaller amounts, and finally, precious gold and beautiful stones are buried deep in the earth.

Notice how our most crucial resources—air and water—are more abundant than any other material. After them, trees, stones, and basic materials are reasonably common, while precious metals like gold and unique stones are scarce, hidden within the earth.

As the Rambam wrote (Guide for the Perplexed, Part III, Chapter 12):

"Pay attention to our existence's conditions. The more necessary something is for living beings, the more abundant and accessible it is; the less essential, the less common and expensive it is. Air, water, and food are essential to humans—the lack of air for even a short time will cause death. Water scarcity might be managed for a day or two. Air is undoubtedly more ubiquitous and accessible. Water is more crucial than food, as people may survive on water without food for four or five days. In every city, water is more plentiful and cheaper than food. This also applies to other essentials: necessary foods are more abundant and cheaper than less essential ones. I doubt any sane person believes humans require musk or amber and gems... In this lies Hashem's kindness and goodness towards His creation."

The world is a stunning masterpiece like the human body, serving our ultimate purpose. From here, we acknowledge the importance of our deeds before the Creator, recognizing Hashem's constant watch over us.