Sex from Outer Space

Strange Misbehaviors Are Really Out There

An observer from outer space might look at life on Planet Earth with amazement. In addition to plants of every kind and color, he would see a stunning variety of creatures on land, in the sea, and in the air, crawling, walking, swimming, flying, or staying put. If he studied them over time, he might notice that wildly different forms of life share one activity: they all procreate. Our observer might report:

"In addition to consuming nutrients, growing, and dying, Earth organisms reproduce. This is done by plants, bacteria, and animals, in many ways, including by the use of pollen, seeds, cell division, asexual reproduction, and sexual reproduction by 'male' and...