MARS -- It is possible to turn it into something like the Earth and make it habitable too? Transforming the Red Planet into something life-friendly doesn't have to be something impossible. Humans could make part of the planet habitable by putting a thin blanket of Silica aerogel above the Martian surface where they'd like to live, according to a new study.
The aerogel will serve as a layer of protection. It will heat the ground enough to melt the water ice while it serves to block the Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, potentially creating the environment where plants and other forms of life could flourish.
"We wanted to think that we can make it possible within a rather workable time table whose effects could last for centuries into the future," said Robin Wordsworth, professor of environmental science and engineering from the Harvard University.
They discovered that the Martian surface was eminently habitable. In the ancient past, its features came with rivers, lakes, and an even bigger ocean. However, things dramatically changed after the planet has lost the magnetic field about 4 billion years ago. The charged particles from the sun slowly stripped away the thick atmosphere that once protected the Red Planet. Eventually, this layer of protected got thin which can no longer keep the heat or the UV radiation out.
The surface became really cold and dry and could no longer keep much of the heat or the UV rays out of the planet. The temperature on the surface has become extremely cold and dry, leaving all those subterranean aquifers to be lost. Some researches believe that there is a huge chance for the underground part of the Martian underground supports the microbial life today.
Many discussions about the inhabitability of Mars has been focused on restoring its protective atmosphere to make the planet more hospitable for life to flourish. However, these terraforming efforts would truly be difficult, not to mention time-consuming and expensive. This is when the study of Wordsworth and his team comes into the picture looking at the possibility of using Silica aerogels to achieve desired results. The material is usually used to passively heat buildings. They also add a thin later of difference that help keep the NASA rovers warm during their frigid stay in the Red Planet.
The aerogel is believed to be useful when it is placed on the planet's surface to build greenhouses which could be a good place for plants and animals to thrive while in the planet. "It could host crops that serve as food and other plants," Wordsworth said.
Then, there are also ethical considerations to think about. Researchers continue to debate on the planetary explorations and protection for several years to come. Today, the aerogel idea is less controversial that the proposed planet terraforming effort.
