Following on from our article last month, Life on Mars. Living on Mars could be even more possible now, by creating ‘small islands’, which are then paved with silica or aerogel. This revelation comes from new research proposed by a British/US joint team.
Silica or aerogel is referred to as a fluffy white powder that is mostly air, it is deemed to be enough to insulate the frozen world, therefore warming the planets surface.
Currently on Mars almost all water is held in a frozen state. However, this ambitious plan could change that within the next few decades.
The plan is to take a modular approach, rather than trying to change the whole planet, as it is believed the effect the modules have will be enough to block hazardous UV radiation and raise water temperatures to above freezing without the need for heating sources.
“This regional approach to making Mars habitable is much more achievable than global atmospheric modification. ‘Unlike the previous ideas to make Mars habitable, this is something that can be developed and tested systematically with materials and technology we already have.”, Professor Robin Wordsworth, engineer at Harvard University.
Silica, previously used on the Mars Rover, is created using to two most abundant elements on the planet, oxygen and silicon.
“Mars is the most habitable planet in our Solar System besides Earth. But it remains a hostile world for many kinds of life. A system for creating small islands of habitability would allow us to transform Mars in a controlled and scalable way.” Dr Laura Kerber, of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
So life on Mars could be on the cards, but would you want to live there.
