Abstract
This paper explains that the Snowball Hypothesis for Earth, which is a theory speculating that the earth has experienced consistent cyclical hot and cold periods, can be considered a possible cause of the current trends toward warmer climates and rising seas. The author points out that the theory encompasses tropical sea-level glaciers, distributions of continents, carbon dioxide levels, solar input, banded iron formations and early bacterial life. The paper states that scientist speculate that approximately twenty thousand years ago, our deep ocean waters moved towards the freezing point, but those water temperatures were not near the equator as was the case during the Neoproterozoic period.

From the Paper
"As we currently fear global warming, evidence may be pointing to eventual temperature shifts that follow the Yin and Yang of life. First, there are opposites hot and cold. The planet is merely going through its normal cyclical changes so we should not fear global warming any more than we should expect it as we should also expect another future snowball. "For the last million years, the Earth has been in its coldest state since the Neoproterozoic. We are now living in a relatively warm episode, some 80,000 years from the next glacial maximum, but some evidence suggests that each successive glaciation over the last several cycles has been getting stronger and stronger.""

Tags:warming, normal, trends, speculation, water

Abstract
This paper examines looks at by James E Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis whose premise is that the entire planet evolves over time because of the interaction of living things with their surrounding environment. It describes the hypothesis in some detail and provides background information. This is followed by a discussion contrasting Lovelock's claims with those of his critics and proffers an approach toward reconciliation.

Outline
Abstract
Introduction
Background
Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Earth's atmosphere is not in a state of chemical equilibrium. It is full of gases that have an affinity for each other. Oxygen, nitrogen, and methane exist in sizable quantities, and left to their own devices, would quickly interact to form a new atmosphere of inert gases, very much like Mars' atmosphere (Margulis and Lovelock, p. 13(2)). So the persistent presence of uncombined methane, nitrogen, and oxygen in the atmosphere is strong evidence that something is replenishing these gases as fast as they naturally interact."

Tags:self, regulation, atmosphere, earth, lovelock

Abstract
This paper is examines the Hispanic population in the US using Blauner's hypothesis about the sociology of immigrant groups. The hypothesis itself is presented, which states that an immigrant group has a far better chance in a larger society than does a colonized group. This is further analyzed in terms of Hispanics in the United States. Additionally, the paper further discusses how Blauner's hypothesis relates to Hispanic characteristics which help or hinder their advancement and acceptance.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this paper is to discuss how Blauner's hypothesis relates to Hispanic characteristics which help or hinder their advancement and acceptance in the United States. Basically Blauner holds that an immigrant group has a far better chance in a larger society than does a colonized group. This makes very good sense as an immigrant group has a high degree of volition in their situation. They most likely left their homeland for a better life. In contrast a colonized..."

Tags:Blauner's Hypothesis, Hispanic immigrants, Native American Indian, colonization, assimilation

Abstract
This paper discusses how ecological footprints, effective ecological tools used to help maintain our world, impose many questions in sustaining the earth's life. Charts are included with the paper.

Defining Our Ecological Footprint
Dependency on Nature
Carrying Capacity of Cities and Earth
Comparison between Countries
Natural Capita: Effects on the Earth
Impact of the World Economies
Solutions

From the Paper
"The world economy has a great impact on the ecological footprints of the world. Every country wants to obtain economic growth to produce more money. But in doing this, they have to deplete their natural capital, which in turn, is not helping in sustaining this world. As William Rees states, "there is simply not enough on the planet to sustain present international development trends using prevailing technologies" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). So something drastic has to be done. As the ecological footprints of humans are already too large for the earth to handle, how can we accommodate the rising materials and rising in population, while trying to sustain the earth. Most analysts agree that it can happen in two ways: through a reduction in the standard of living or through the increase in material and energy efficiency (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). These two issues also apply problems, through cultural, economic, and social values. Especially in the more developed countries. To lower the standard of living would be outright rejected in the more developed countries such as Canada and the U. S. So indeed, most people agree that "global sustainability is achievable only through large increases in the consumption of goods and services in both poorer and richer countries" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). But still a problem arises. There will still be inequity in the growth of the more and less developed countries. It seems the richer get richer and the poorer get poorer. A consensus seems to be emerging though. They say that the needed consumption will work if there is a reduction in the material energy costs of goods and services. "

Tags:capacity, carrying, footprints, economy, world, natural, capita, sustainability, consumption, food, ecology, countries, cities, earth, nature

Abstract
The paper looks at the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) and explores whether or not an application of it to the investment phenomenon of mutual funds will explain the performance of those funds relative to the index on average. More specifically, the paper examines the proposition that, if EMH is true, then mutual funds cannot hope to beat the market index. The paper reveals that the efficient market hypothesis has shortcomings that make it a less-than-reliable predictor of what mutual funds will do over "the long haul"; at the same time, a number of longitudinal studies have confirmed that mutual funds - especially actively-managed mutual funds - fall short of achieving the growth the market achieves on its own. The paper concludes that given this reality, it appears as though mutual funds are an uncertain investment even if EMH does not work in actuality.

From the Paper
"Over the last forty years, the Efficient Market Hypothesis or EMH has been arguably the most significant theory dealing with investment. With this in mind, the following paper will look at EMH and explore whether or not an application of it to the investment phenomenon of mutual funds will explain the performance of those funds relative to the index on average. More specifically, the next several pages will look at the proposition that, if EMH is true, then mutual funds cannot hope to beat the market index. As will become clear, a few interesting revelations manifest themselves when the topic is explored. For one thing, the Efficient Market..."

Tags:efficient, market, hypothesis

Abstract
The paper discusses how many stories have unfolded about how the planet Earth evolved. The paper questions what people should believe, and what people should perceive from researchers, religious officials and historians. The paper suggests that you have to gather all the information that has been given and formulate the most realistic conclusion. The paper discusses how researchers suggest that Earth was a formulation by many stars that were born and passed into oblivion.

Tags:earth, birth, science

Abstract
This paper provides a discussion of the Earth's atmosphere and the five layers of which it consists.These are described as the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. The paper also also describes the significance of the atmosphere to the environment of the Earth.

From the Paper
"The Earth's atmosphere is a blanket of air that consists of five layers of gas troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. (Wikipedia) Even the early Greeks were concerned with the elements that made up the universe. Air was considered one of these. In the ...s John Dalton discovered the atmosphere was a mixture of distinct gasses. (Egger) By the ...' s new technology, like the spectrometer, permitted scientists to discover gases in small concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere, like ozone and..."

Tags:ozone layer, greenhouse effect, global warming, climate, Earth, temperature, gases, emissions

Abstract
This paper is an examination of life on Earth from its humble beginnings on through the remarkably fecund Cambrian period. Among other things, this paper looks at the Earth's own unlikely beginning, the slow development of life on its surface and the perils it faces. Of special interest, the paper devotes a great deal of time to possible explanations for the recrudescence that took place during the Cambrain period.

From the Paper
"The origins of life on earth have fascinated and engrossed scientists for generations. This fascination, of course, should not be surprising: as human beings, we have an instinctive need to know our past - perhaps because knowing our past gives our lives meaning and context and informs our present and future. Whatever the case may be, the study of life's origins has long been one of the chief pursuits of the scientific community. With this in mind, the following chapter will examine the history of life on planet Earth from the earliest days of our planet, on through the period in which the first simple, multi-cellular organisms emerged, to the "Cambrian Explosion" and the marvelous profusion of life that it created. "

Tags:earth, life, history

Abstract
This essay details several ways to make our life on Earth better from an environmental point of view. It analyzes Thomas Berry's 'The Great Work', a standard work in the eyes of the ecological community discussing the progress of commerce and its relationship with the Earth. Berry encourages the work of changing the world's perspective from within by changing individuals to recognize a "new" reality actually as old as time itself. It also discusses the progress being done towards 'The Great Work' as well as other progress.

From the Paper
"Thomas Berry's The Great Work is a standard in the ecological community, albeit from what may have been at first considered an unusual source: the author, after all, is an ordained Catholic monk. Long before Berry was a religious thinker, however, he was a boy gifted with a unique insight into the world, specifically the American world around him. He has followed that vision to illuminate with a poet's lyricism the contrast between what is needed, an interdependence on the earth, versus the "dam, plow and pave" mentality he found so prevalent in this culture growing up."

Tags:ecological, Catholic, Thomas, Berry, religious, Earth, damage, commerce

Abstract
This paper takes a critical look at the book "Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe", by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee. It discusses their theories of the beginning of life on Earth and additional theories to life on other planets. It challenges their research and data and offers other explanations and theories.

From the Paper
"Was the occurrence of complex life on the planet Earth an isolated event or simply the next logical step in evolution? Ward and Brownlee seem to believe complex life is unique to our home world or at least extremely scarce in the Universe.1 In addition to the factors in their Rare Earth equation, mentioned in their book are some specific factors peculiar to Earth that may have affected the development of complex life. Beginning with the planet Mars, W&B argue that the fossil record shows that the cooling Earth developed bacterial life as soon as conditions permitted. They suggest that this may be because the bacteria first developed on Mars, which cooled earlier, and that perhaps Earth was then seeded with these bacteria carried by meteorites reaching our planet after having been ejected from Mars by asteroid impacts. The low gravity of Mars makes this more likely, and it is estimated that ten percent of meteors ejected from Mars may impact Earth. A system lacking a Mars-like planetary companion might have been slower to develop bacterial life."

Tags:complex, earth, life, Mars, geology, bacteria, plants, galaxy, scientific, molecule, DNA