The idea of turning Mars into a more human-friendly world sounds like science fiction. But, can this be done in real life?
Scientists are now proposing a new approach to warming the near-Earth planet by pumping engineered particles – similar in size to commercially available glitter and on made of iron or aluminum – into the atmosphere as aerosols to trap heat and spread sunlight on the Martian surface. The idea is to add to Mars’ natural greenhouse effect to raise the surface temperature by about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) over a decade.
This alone would not make Mars habitable for people, but the scientists who are developing the proposal see it as a possible first step.
“Landscape refers to changing a planet’s environment to make it more Earth-like. For Mars, warming the planet is an important first step, but not enough. Previous concepts focused on releasing greenhouse gases, but this would require a lot of resources that are in short supply on Mars,” said University of Chicago planetary scientist Edwin Kite, who helped lead the research. which was published this week in the journal Science Advances.
“The main elements of our paper are a new proposal to use engineered nanoparticles to warm the Martian atmosphere, and climate modeling showing that this approach could be much more effective than previous concepts. “This is important because it reveals a potentially more feasible way to modify the Martian climate, which could inform future Mars exploration strategies,” Kite said.
NASA has sent rover robots to explore the surface of Mars and the InSight Lander probe to explore the interior of the planet. The US space agency’s Artemis program aims to put astronauts on the surface of the moon for the first time since 1972 in preparation for future human missions to Mars.
There are many challenges to human settlement on Mars: lack of breathable oxygen, dangerous ultraviolet radiation due to the thin atmosphere, salty soil unsuitable for growing plants, dust storms that sometimes cover much of the planet, and much more. However, its frigid temperature is a major obstacle.
“We aim to show that the idea of warming Mars is not impossible. “We hope our findings will encourage the broader scientific community, and the general public, to explore this intriguing idea,” said lead study author Samaneh Ansari, a doctoral student in the department of electrical and engineering engineering. computer at Northwestern University in Illinois.
The average surface temperature of Mars is about minus-85 degrees Fahrenheit (less than -65 degrees Celsius). With its thin atmosphere, the heat from the sun on the surface of Mars easily evaporates into space. The proposal aims to allow liquid water to exist on the surface of Mars, which has water in the form of ice in the polar and subsurface regions.
Scientists suggest that tiny rod-shaped particles – nanorods – will be released into the atmosphere at a rate of about eight gallons (30 liters) per second over several years.
“The idea is to put materials or better yet, put manufacturing tools and make nanorods on the planet because iron and aluminum are abundant on the surface of Mars,” said Ansari.
Researchers are aware of the possibility of unintended consequences in transforming other worlds for the benefit of humanity. Scientists, for example, want to know if Mars has had life in the past – or maybe now, in the form of microbes under the surface.
“Although nanoparticles could warm Mars, the potential benefits and costs of this action are currently uncertain. “For example, in the unlikely event that the Martian soil contains irreversible compounds that are toxic to all life that originated on Earth, the benefits of warming Mars are zero,” Kite said.
“On the other hand, if there could be a photosynthetic biosphere on the surface of Mars, it could increase the ability of the solar system to support human development,” Kite said. “Cost-wise, if Mars has life, the study of that life could provide significant benefits that ensure robust protection of its habitat. “
2024-08-11 13:31:58
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