Effect Of A Retrograde Earth

[petrushkagoogol]

If the Earth's orbit had been retrograde would life have evolved on Earth ? (all other things remaining the same).   

[exchemist]

If the Earth's orbit had been retrograde would life have evolved on Earth ? (all other things remaining the same).   

I do not immediately see why not. Do you have any reason to think the direction of the orbital motion would alter the conditions for life to arise?

[petrushkagoogol]

I do not immediately see why not. Do you have any reason to think the direction of the orbital motion would alter the conditions for life to arise?

 

Let us assume that the peak density at which the meteorites had landed on Earth to kill the dinosaurs was 20 N 30 E. If the Earth had rotated in the opposite sense this point would be 20 N 30 W. Maybe this point would be in an ocean. and not on a landmass. This means that the dinosaurs would still be around. In other words the Jurassic era would not have ended 65 million years ago !     

[exchemist]

Let us assume that the peak density at which the meteorites had landed on Earth to kill the dinosaurs was 20 N 30 E. If the Earth had rotated in the opposite sense this point would be 20 N 30 W. Maybe this point would be in an ocean. and not on a landmass. This means that the dinosaurs would still be around. In other words the Jurassic era would not have ended 65 million years ago !     

..which has precisely nothing to do with the origin of life.

[petrushkagoogol]

..which has precisely nothing to do with the origin of life.

 

With only a very slight variation in the orbit of the Earth or its speed or direction of rotation, the Chicxulub Impactor would have missed the planet and dinosaurs would have survived.

 

There's no reason to suppose human-like animals wouldn't have evolved but they wouldn't actually be 100% human.   :zip: 

Edited November 8, 2017 by petrushkagoogol

[exchemist]

With only a very slight variation in the orbit of the Earth or its speed or direction of rotation, the Chicxulub Impactor would have missed the planet and dinosaurs would have survived.

 

There's no reason to suppose human-like animals wouldn't have evolved but they wouldn't actually be 100% human.   :zip: 

But you asked whether LIFE would have evolved, not whether evolution would have taken exactly the same course.  

[petrushkagoogol]

But you asked whether LIFE would have evolved, not whether evolution would have taken exactly the same course.  

 

To rephrase, would Humans have developed in the manner that we are acquainted with them now ?