3 ms·

Just one of the fun ones https://slate.com/technology/2015/04/perchlorate-in-martian-soil-the-chemical-that-could-be-dangerous-to-astronauts.html https://slate.

Just one of the fun ones https://slate.com/technology/2015/04/perchlorate-in-martian-soil-the-chemical-that-could-be-dangerous-to-astronauts.html https://slate.com/technology/2015/04/perchlorate-in-martian-... Wiki has other details https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_soil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_soil In any case, point is: We need to stop being a threat to ourselves, and hoping that another planet, for which we're not evolved to survive on, is a better choice feels like the wrong path. Humans are amazing at surviving... on earth. Because we evolved to survive here. Having a "plan B" is not a bad choice, because a lot can happen that we cannot prevent. However we can't resettle everyone. Most will die. Plan B is to continue the species, but not necessarily to actually save us.

somenameforme 2y ago
Interesting article. Thanks. And yeah I strongly agree that there are a lot of questions about how childbirth outside of Earth will work. Another simple issue is would people born on Mars even be able to ever return to Earth (assuming they're otherwise healthy)? How the body will evolve and adapt when all you've known is 1/3rd g is an interesting and open question that we're only going to be able to completely answer by doing. I also completely agree with everything re: Earth. But one thing I'd add there is that I think humanity actually starting to settle Mars will dramatically shift the mindset of both people and countries. Imagine China was engaging in mass transit to populate and build up New Beijing. It's not like the US would simply stand by. And today I think many people are not so interested in these ideas, because they think it's simply impossible. I'm thinking more like New World parallels rather than Space Race.

3 ms·

Just one of the fun ones https://slate.com/technology/2015/04/perchlorate-in-martian-soil-the-chemical-that-could-be-dangerous-to-astronauts.html https://slate.

by Justsignedup 2y ago

somenameforme 2y ago
Interesting article. Thanks. And yeah I strongly agree that there are a lot of questions about how childbirth outside of Earth will work. Another simple issue is would people born on Mars even be able to ever return to Earth (assuming they're otherwise healthy)? How the body will evolve and adapt when all you've known is 1/3rd g is an interesting and open question that we're only going to be able to completely answer by doing. I also completely agree with everything re: Earth. But one thing I'd add there is that I think humanity actually starting to settle Mars will dramatically shift the mindset of both people and countries. Imagine China was engaging in mass transit to populate and build up New Beijing. It's not like the US would simply stand by. And today I think many people are not so interested in these ideas, because they think it's simply impossible. I'm thinking more like New World parallels rather than Space Race.