quote:

ORIGINAL: Real_Solitude

Why do we want to colonize Mars? Because it's safer to not, as the old saying goes, have all of your eggs in one basket. There is evidence that the Earth undergoes dramatic change every so often; massive catastrophes that destroy all, or nearly all, life. If such a catastrophe happened right now, humanity would be over. Many people consider this a bad thing, and so wish to move off-planet.
Honestly though, the people who want to terraform other planets are going about it the wrong way. What we need to do is find a way to alter human genetics to live in different environments. It would be easier to live on (for instance) Venus, if we found a way to, genetically, let us live in hot places and breathe carbon-dioxide.

This isn't to mention the inadvertent technological benefits that would come about from the research required to perform such a feat as colonizing other planets.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DanJames
Sounds reasonable to me. That and it would just be a huge step for mankind to conquer other planets.
Oh and, I don't.... think it's possible to breath CO2. Oxygen is kinda needed for stuff like metabolism. Even plants need oxygen. You can't just replace it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Real_Solitude

quote:

ORIGINAL: DanJames
Sounds reasonable to me. That and it would just be a huge step for mankind to conquer other planets.
Oh and, I don't.... think it's possible to breath CO2. Oxygen is kinda needed for stuff like metabolism. Even plants need oxygen. You can't just replace it.

I don't mean a simple swap job, though. I'm talking about a complete re-design of the system. If we can figure out how to engineer new biological systems, it's not implausible that we could create a way in which to respirate CO2. Either that, or find a way to not have to breathe, whether through biological engineering, or through replacing those systems with a machine-based system. <Insert Borg joke>

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ORIGINAL: 1love1God1way

I think they just want to host the X-Games there.

quote:

ORIGINAL: fallenstar

Let me put it this way. This is my oppinion. I look at earth as a fish bowl. The fishbowl used to be full of seaweed and lots of space, but since we keep dumping fish in the fish bowl, (people are fish) we are running out of room. We need another fish bowl, and yes I do support the whole living on mars thing. With the kind of technology we have, we'd be able to live there no problem in a few years. I want to move there, hech yeah!!!

[8|] Star Warz!! AAAAAAAA!!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Real_Solitude

Why do we want to colonize Mars? Because it's safer to not, as the old saying goes, have all of your eggs in one basket. There is evidence that the Earth undergoes dramatic change every so often; massive catastrophes that destroy all, or nearly all, life. If such a catastrophe happened right now, humanity would be over. Many people consider this a bad thing, and so wish to move off-planet.
Honestly though, the people who want to terraform other planets are going about it the wrong way. What we need to do is find a way to alter human genetics to live in different environments. It would be easier to live on (for instance) Venus, if we found a way to, genetically, let us live in hot places and breathe carbon-dioxide.

This isn't to mention the inadvertent technological benefits that would come about from the research required to perform such a feat as colonizing other planets.

quote:

ORIGINAL: fallenstar

quote:

ORIGINAL: Real_Solitude

Why do we want to colonize Mars? Because it's safer to not, as the old saying goes, have all of your eggs in one basket. There is evidence that the Earth undergoes dramatic change every so often; massive catastrophes that destroy all, or nearly all, life. If such a catastrophe happened right now, humanity would be over. Many people consider this a bad thing, and so wish to move off-planet.
Honestly though, the people who want to terraform other planets are going about it the wrong way. What we need to do is find a way to alter human genetics to live in different environments. It would be easier to live on (for instance) Venus, if we found a way to, genetically, let us live in hot places and breathe carbon-dioxide.

This isn't to mention the inadvertent technological benefits that would come about from the research required to perform such a feat as colonizing other planets.

So it's nt okay to live on another planet but it's okay to mess with people's genetics? That really does'nt make sense. Both ways suggested are messing with mother nature, ant the way thigs are supposed to be. But as for genetics, messing with the basics of life could cause deformities and "freaks". Very, very delicate stuff.

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ORIGINAL: fallenstar

Let me put it this way. This is my oppinion. I look at earth as a fish bowl. The fishbowl used to be full of seaweed and lots of space, but since we keep dumping fish in the fish bowl, (people are fish) we are running out of room. We need another fish bowl, and yes I do support the whole living on mars thing. With the kind of technology we have, we'd be able to live there no problem in a few years. I want to move there, hech yeah!!!

[8|] Star Warz!! AAAAAAAA!!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: mikeman2

quote:

ORIGINAL: fallenstar

Let me put it this way. This is my oppinion. I look at earth as a fish bowl. The fishbowl used to be full of seaweed and lots of space, but since we keep dumping fish in the fish bowl, (people are fish) we are running out of room. We need another fish bowl, and yes I do support the whole living on mars thing. With the kind of technology we have, we'd be able to live there no problem in a few years. I want to move there, hech yeah!!!

[8|] Star Warz!! AAAAAAAA!!!

Thats great. I am sure you will enjoy it on Mars. I hear there is a lot of rock.

Anyway, I at one time was in favor of moving off this planet, however, now I am not so sure. Just look at the alternatives and you will see that the earth is the only planet that is LIVING. Therefore, if you want to move to a dead planet or delude yourself into thinking you can turn it into a living planet then go right ahead. As for myself, I will stay put, thank you very much.

All this talk reminds me of some sceintific experiments done to see how long life could be sustained isolated from the earth environment. If I recall, they locked themsevles into this chamber for over a year and tried to grow vegetables and recycle water etc etc. However, after so long those plants seemed not to want to grow with next to no explaination. Has anyone else heard about this?

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ORIGINAL: gluadys

Yes, it was called Biosphere 2. In fact, they were never able to completely seal off the Biosphere because they could not sustain the correct balance of atmospheric gases without an external input of oxygen. And even with that, the experiment had to be cut short because plants were dying and ecosystems were failing and human health could not be maintained.

I have very serious doubts about the possibility of long-term occupation of other planets. Makes for nice science fiction reading, but not much more, yet.

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ORIGINAL: PNJai

Why are some people so fixated with trying to colonize Mars (or other celestial bodies for that matter)?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Real_Solitude

I don't mean a simple swap job, though. I'm talking about a complete re-design of the system. If we can figure out how to engineer new biological systems, it's not implausible that we could create a way in which to respirate CO2.

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ORIGINAL: futuredocter37

I think going to Mars is a great idea, especially for people who think this plant is getting a little to croweded for them. There is our nearest planet, the air is a little thin over there, plus its mostly carbon dioxide.

I'd love to see us go to mars and back to the moon, but not becuase I'm getting claustrophobic.

Ken