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But why terraform Mars at all?
In the not too distant future, the sun will continue to get brighter until eventually, Earth becomes too hot to inhabit. Previous calculations had pegged that time at about a billion years from now, but a new paper argues that earlier models had neglected the role of atmospheric pressure in regulating the temperature of the planet on astronomical time scales. In other words, this could happen sooner than predicted!
The future Earth?
It is therefore imperative for humanity to find another home – Mars. However, in populating a new area we often first think of how it would benefit us. Rarely do we think of how we might ruin what already exists. But for mankind to survive, is there a choice?
Originally posted by Illustronic
OK Mars has about a third of the gravity of Earth and it's moons are inconsequential for tidal effect that act to help warm a planet. Earth has a relatively large moon unlike any other planet we know, (Pluto doesn't count due to a myriad of things). Mars also receives about a third of the sun we do. It's axis is similar, it's day is similar, about an hour longer than ours and it's year is about twice as long as ours.
All of these obstacles plus the lack of water, wouldn't see this in the realm of any possibility even a billion years from now. Mars also lack the all important magnetosphere to protect it from harmful cosmic rays even at 38% of what Earth is bombarded by. Mars is dead for a reason and the sun wont last long enough for Mars to ever get into a habitable zone and stay there for 3 billion years for surface life to develop beyond an earthworm.
It's just misunderstood how much our moon has to do with the development of life on earth.
Originally posted by sensible thought
Not sure if it has been posted but Mars does not have a magnetic field to protect an atmosphere from the suns solar winds. To the best of my knowledge even if we were to produce a green house atmosphere a solar event could easily wipe it away.
mgs-mager.gsfc.nasa.gov...
"Mars does not presently have a global magnetic field but had one early in its life, similar to that of Earth. However, Mars does have very strong crustal magnetic fields, more than 30 times stronger than those of Earth. "
Originally posted by Echtelion
Errrr... I don't understand the logic here, if there is one. If the Sun's gradual heating up prompts Earthlings to go to another planet becaue the earth got way too hot, then why should they go to a place CLOSER to the Sun? Mars is the past, whatever it was...
The contrary makes sense, though... that Martians, a very long time ago, terraformed a cooler Earth while they still lived on Mars, and eventually moved here after or as their homeworld was getting inhabitable for some reason.
What's next for the Illuminati overlords? Titan? Enceladus? Europa?
They first have to exploit the Earth till it's drained out of ts resources... and people!edit on 10/2/11 by Echtelion because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by bluedrake
When I read articles like this, it makes me so sad as I know I wont be around to see it.
Imagine how exciting this would be if they could do this within our lifetime
Originally posted by EagleTalonZ
This stuff is SO fascinating!! I'm always deeply intrigued by this. The thing that brings me back to Earth though is just imagine how much further we would be as a race if we put all our intelligence into this stuff, versus all the weapons and wars. Humanity would be so much more awesome if we didn't need feel the need to destroy ourselves and instead realized we're on this planet together... and if we want to survive, we need to figure out how to get off this planet together.
I, like many of you, am saddened that I most likely won't be around to see this stuff. With NASA not even willing to return to the Moon for many years, who knows how long the government will hold us back.
I think for tonight, I'm going to stare into the sky and imagine humans as a non-violent race and that we are spread out among the stars. The vast and infinite possibilities of our beautiful Universe. Good thread, OP!
Originally posted by Silicis n Volvo
Originally posted by Illustronic
OK Mars has about a third of the gravity of Earth and it's moons are inconsequential for tidal effect that act to help warm a planet. Earth has a relatively large moon unlike any other planet we know, (Pluto doesn't count due to a myriad of things). Mars also receives about a third of the sun we do. It's axis is similar, it's day is similar, about an hour longer than ours and it's year is about twice as long as ours.
All of these obstacles plus the lack of water, wouldn't see this in the realm of any possibility even a billion years from now. Mars also lack the all important magnetosphere to protect it from harmful cosmic rays even at 38% of what Earth is bombarded by. Mars is dead for a reason and the sun wont last long enough for Mars to ever get into a habitable zone and stay there for 3 billion years for surface life to develop beyond an earthworm.
It's just misunderstood how much our moon has to do with the development of life on earth.
u missed the point completely
sure if we left it to nature wht you say might be true.
we are talking about humans using technology to do in several hundred years what nature may take a billion years to do.
and as someone else has stated...considering how far technology has come in the last 100 years....give it another few thousand (if we dont kill ourselves) and you just cant imagine what we will be able to do.
given all the facts such as mars having an iron core, water, carbon dioxide atmosphere (which can be thickened) i think it would be possible. the length of a day or year isnt relevant to weather its possible or not as humans can adapt to that.
Originally posted by Echtelion
Errrr... I don't understand the logic here, if there is one. If the Sun's gradual heating up prompts Earthlings to go to another planet becaue the earth got way too hot, then why should they go to a place CLOSER to the Sun? Mars is the past, whatever it was...
Originally posted by Wolfenz
reply to post by OrionHunterX
Im Curious what you would think about these People
The Mars Anomaly Research are trying to prove ?
BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE DIRECTORY ( ? )
www.marsanomalyresearch.com...
What about Spy satellites how good are they now ! ? how much have we improved within 40 - 50 years
how blury
Dont get me wrong here .. Im not defending anyone I just see alot of strange anomaly's on mars
Especially for a Dead planet
if there is or was life on Mars the Only Obstacle Question i have is
How are they going to reactivate/Strengthen the core ? (Magnetic field)