NASA is planning to bring back the oceans of Mars! If everyone would believe the words of acclaimed scientist Stephen Hawking who said that people only have 1000 years left here on Earth, then it definitely is important that mankind finds another habitable planet. Unfortunately, scientists are yet to find a planet that could host life. While there are many recently discovered planets that could potentially support life, Mars still remains to be the best candidate out there. However, the red planet is still considered uninhabitable.
However, scientists are looking for ways to change that. In fact, according to Fox News, they have come up with a grand idea to erect a magnetic shield around the red planet which can hopefully help bring back Mars' oceans and also replacing the one that the planet lost some 4 billion years ago. NASA believes that the shield would help protect the planet from solar radiation and winds which have caused the loss of Mars' waters and warmth.
According to Phys.org, scientists believe that Mars once had a magnetic field that protected its atmosphere but that it had suddenly disappeared 4 billion years ago. With the loss of the magnetic field, Mars soon lost its atmosphere thus turning the warm planet into the cold and uninhabitable planet that it is today. Dr. Jim Green, NASA's Planetary Science Division Director, presented this idea along with a panel of researchers in a DC workshop admitting that it may be a bit too ambitious but it may just be what the planet needs to help support life.
The idea is that by placing a magnetic shield at the L1 Lagrange Point, it would help thicken the atmosphere and warm the planet enough to thaw the ice in Mars North Pole and then restore some of Mars' oceans. When this happens, it would make it easier to explore Mars' habitability.
