Ep. 96: Humans to Mars, Part 3 - Terraforming Mars

A terraformed Mars. Image credit: NASA credit:

And now we reach the third part of our trilogy on the human exploration and colonization of Mars. Humans will inevitably tire of living underground, and will want to stretch their legs, and fill their lungs with fresh air. One day, we'll contemplate the possibility of reshaping Mars to suit human life. Is it even possible? What technologies would be used, and what's the best we can hope for? Ep. 96: Humans to Mars, Part 3 - Terraforming Mars

Show Notes

Ep. 96: Humans to Mars, Part 3 - Terraforming Mars

All About Mars:

• NASA's Quick Facts on Mars
• "Mars 101" from the Phoenix Mission
• Mars Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere

Vs. Earth:

• All About Earth's Magnetic Field
• IPCC List of Greenhouse gases
• Info on Radiation Safety

Back to Mars:

• Paper:  "Keeping Mars Warm With New Super Greenhouse Gases"
• Abstract:  "Technological Requirements for Terraforming Mars" by Robert Zubrin and Christopher McKay
• Paper:  "The Terraformation of Planets" by Peter Ahrens
• Terraforming Mars
• Red Colony's info on Terraforming
• Terraforming Information Page
• Wikipedia's Terraforming Mars page
• Using a giant magnifying lens to "melt" Mars and re-liquefy the core
• Mars Society
• Building Domes on Mars
• Abstract:  Paraterraforming
• Paper:  "The Political Economy of Very Large Space Projects"
• Info about radiation; alpha and beta particles, etc
• Growing plants on Mars
• Bioengineering plants to grow on Mars

Terraforming Other Places in the Solar System:

• Terraforming Venus
• Wikipedia on Venus Colonization
• Wikipedia on Terraforming Other Places in the Solar System

Books:

• Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson
• "Terraforming" by Martyn J. Fogg  and here's a review of that book by Geoffrey Landis
• "Respect for the World:  Universal Ethics and Morality of Terraforming" by Paul F. York
• "Terraforming Earth" by Jack Williamson (to be used if Earth is ever made unlivable via asteriod impact, etc.)

1. Mark Montgomery Says:
   July 8th, 2008 at 11:52 pm

   Again, am I the only one noticing static about 21 minutes in? It's pretty bad.

2. David Streever Says:
   July 18th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

   Hey Mark,

   I REALLY jacked up my volume, starting at 20:01, and re-listened to 22:00–I found about 15 seconds total of static, in little bursts–they weren't that bad, even with the volume really jacked up. They started around 20:20 and ended completely by 23:00. It seemed to only occur when Frasier spoke. Hope that helps.

3. Nils Says:
   July 20th, 2008 at 11:07 pm

   Congratulations on - counting the special epidsodes and student question episodes - your 100th episode. Mars is always a good topic, too. Can't say I remember any static.

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