One of the most startling and immense systems of weather and inexplicable demonstrations of stable atmospheric dynamics is the great red spot of Jupiter that was first observed more than 300 years ago. It is assumed that it was Cassini who first observed the Great Red Spot, however, it is unlikely that when Cassini made the observation that he considered whether the spot could be observing him.
If one accepted the gaia hypothesis as addition or otherwise fitting
with our clinical definition of life, then there would be no need to further question the existence of extra terrestrial life because we could simply begin to investigate the other planets in our solar system as conscious living systems. Possibly the most difficult psychological hurtle for the human race would be to accept a view that we are conscious beings that make up part of a larger conscious being that is the earth and that each degree has free will that defies logic. For sake of this hypothesis, put aside the notion that life and consciousness has to follow a strict clinical definition of what we can observe, dissect and calculate to consider and compare the larger living system of Jupiter with that of earth.
One of the observable traits common to living planets with complex internal workings is its weather system. Collectively, life on earth contributes to the creation, the content and the shape of our atmosphere. In this respect, the human race through the observation and understanding of the universe has shaped the weather systems by applying this knowledge and understanding to lifestyle and to the taming of nature. A gaia theorist could postulate that, in part through our actions, the earth weather system is an evolved complex system that has a memory and is aware and conscious of the universe; the earth can observe and store information of the surrounding universe through us. A planet like Jupiter would not be able to sustain our forms life given the immense gravitational field yet there is potential mechanism that could shape the weather patterns on Jupiter through external universal influences: the great red spot. The great red spot of Jupiter is still a mystery to scientists yet is it possible that it is part of the living system of Jupiter itself much as we are to the earth? Is the great red spot an example of the inexplicable properties of life and free will?
Consider the great red spot as an engine that drives the rest of the weather patterns on Jupiter and then apply the butterfly effect discovered while attempting mathematical weather modeling; a small perturbation in temperature or pressure within the great red spot will have immense consequences to the unfolding patterns of the surrounding weather system. A small blip in the spot would be amplified to some degree on the resulting eddies and vortexes around the spot. Is this Jupiter's eye to sense the surrounding universe?
Words and Music (C)opyright 2005, Peter J Slack, SOCAN