Water on mars! Go Phoenix!

[TerriO]

There are people who live in those harsh climates (I'm thinking deepest Alaska or the Sahara Desert), but not enough to make them major population centers. What do we do, terraform Earth?

Yes. Before we seriously talk about growing plants on Mars, let's turn the Sahara desert into farmland. That's got to be easier, more useful, and probably a lot less expensive.

You realize you're talking about changes that would involve manipulating the groundwater levels in the desert, correct? And that's not taking into account any potential plant nutrients that may need to be added to the soil once there's enough water to create a serious growing season.

Not to mention the fact that it's an equatorial region, which alone alters the amount of actual crops that can be produced in that region.

And that's just off the top of a head that really needs to get another cup of coffee.

We will have a colony on Mars eventually. It's just a matter of time.

I agree that we may... eventually. It's just that I think it will take a long, long time. Not to put too much of a damper on your enthusiasm, but there were people in the 1930's that thought we'd all be driving flying cars by 1960.

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Actually, we have had flying cars, just not at a level where they're accessible to the general public. And, in retrospect, that's probably a good thing. We've already got drivers on the road who can't deal with driving in two dimensions, let alone three. When the drivers are capable of handling the flying cars, they'll be there.

Not to put a damper on your pessimism.

 

[Deckerd]

Virtually everyone on this BBS, and a large portion of the population in general, is already convinced that someone else is "out there", and that's without this proof that you and others feel we must have.

'Virtually everyone on this BBS?' I think you might be way off there.

 

[scotthm]

Yes. Before we seriously talk about growing plants on Mars, let's turn the Sahara desert into farmland. That's got to be easier, more useful, and probably a lot less expensive.

You realize you're talking about changes that would involve manipulating the groundwater levels in the desert, correct? And that's not taking into account any potential plant nutrients that may need to be added to the soil once there's enough water to create a serious growing season.

Not to mention the fact that it's an equatorial region, which alone alters the amount of actual crops that can be produced in that region.

And that's just off the top of a head that really needs to get another cup of coffee.

Yes, I know it's difficult. Growing plants on Mars will be much more difficult, which is why I don't think it will happen.

Not to put a damper on your pessimism.

I don't mind, it needs a rest now and then.

Virtually everyone on this BBS, and a large portion of the population in general, is already convinced that someone else is "out there", and that's without this proof that you and others feel we must have.

'Virtually everyone on this BBS?' I think you might be way off there.

Maybe, but I think you may be way off.

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[CaptainDonovin]

I am of the belief that there is life out there. Watching shows like Blue Planet and the episode "Deep" if life can exist in the places of the deep oceans this episode showed then I can see life on Titan or Gliese 581 d if water happens to exist there. I also have the thinking intelligent life is out there. It's a big galaxy.

Virtually everyone on this BBS, and a large portion of the population in general, is already convinced that someone else is "out there", and that's without this proof that you and others feel we must have.

'Virtually everyone on this BBS?' I think you might be way off there.

Maybe, but I think you may be way off.

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To open a can of worms, people believe in many things where the re is no proof. I believe in God (for the most part) but have no proof other than what I've been taught or have learned.