Since there’s not enough oxygen on Mars for humans to use if they ever want to truly live there, scientists need to find a way to change our neighboring planet’s atmosphere. One scientist now believes that he knows the winning formula to make it happen: growing a forest inside a bubble placed on the Red Planet.
The wild idea belongs to Paul Smith, a civil engineer from the University of Bristol. He believes in the possibility of naturally growing an Earthly forest inside a bubble on Mars over time that could serve as an oasis. He’s one of those folks who believes that the Earth’s overpopulation could pose a problem in the near future, as humans are becoming more and more numerous at a staggering rate. And it’s enough to take a brief look at the stats to realize that Smith is not bluffing.
A new home is needed
One way to solve the overpopulation of the Earth issue is obviously to move some of the humans to another planet. Mars has always been considered a potential destination for human colonization, but obviously, a lot more time is needed until and if scientists will indeed manage to build any settlement there.
Since terraforming Mars would take some time and there’s no guarantee that it can actually work, growing a forest inside a bubble there seems a much more plausible scenario.
Paul Smith details his theory:
It would serve as an extraterrestrial nature reserve (ETNR), psychological refuge and utilitarian botanic garden, supporting species of value to colonists for secondary metabolites (vitamins, flavors, perfumes, medicines, colors and mood enhancers).
What’s for sure is that Mars is much farther away from Earth compared to the distance that separates us from the Moon.
The new theory was published in the International Journal of Astrobiology.
