The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is scientist James Lovelock. The son of a South London gasman, he'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his passion for science and recalling some of the experiences he had whilst working on the American space programme, which eventually led him to invent the Gaia Theory - a theory which, amongst other things, argues that the human race is not necessary for the planet's survival.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Et Incarnatus Est by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart