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InvisibleAmoeboid
seriously deliriously
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Registered: 07/02/09
Posts: 1,888
Terraforming a planet with native life.
    #14876947 - 08/05/11 01:42 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

Which is more valuable: a planet being terraformed for human habitation or a planet with indigenous life? 

What if humans develop the means to terraform mars and in the process discover indigenous life?...microbial or otherwise. Would terraforming still be a good idea even though it might disrupt the life forms that already exist there? Presumably, scientists can learn much by observing atmospheric changes caused by terraforming but they can also learn much by studying native life. 

I think if humanity ever NEEDED to terraform Mars, because of some doomsday scenario on earth, the choice would be obvious.

If Mars has life should terraforming still be an option?

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OfflineButteredToast
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Registered: 09/05/09
Posts: 1,618
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
Re: Terraforming a planet with native life. [Re: Amoeboid]
    #14877031 - 08/05/11 02:05 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

Life never gets in the way of resources.

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InvisiblePatrickKn
I'm a teapot

Registered: 07/10/11
Posts: 20,850
Re: Terraforming a planet with native life. [Re: Amoeboid]
    #14877045 - 08/05/11 02:09 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

Human expansion is definitely more valuable if you ask me. Mars obviously doesn't have any life beyond microbes frozen in ice for billions of years. The real question is whether or not it would be possible to terraform mars for human sustainability. Probably not possible beyond a couple small bio domes that require constant refueling.

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Invisiblekoraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,729
Re: Terraforming a planet with native life. [Re: PatrickKn]
    #14877137 - 08/05/11 02:25 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

If you want to terraform anything, try starting with the moon. It's a lot closer than Mars and that greatly helps in the logistics of the whole endeavor.

Also, if mankind finds a native lifeform on another planet, it seems to me that it's unwise to destroy it; it might prove useful at some point.

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InvisiblePatrickKn
I'm a teapot

Registered: 07/10/11
Posts: 20,850
Re: Terraforming a planet with native life. [Re: koraks]
    #14877215 - 08/05/11 02:42 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

I agree with the moon bit, however I don't see it as being too necessary today. We've got little reason to attempt to terraform a planet or our moon today, especially given the costs of simply getting there. 50-100 billion dollars for a one way trip really. Much more could be done keeping life sustained here on earth with that kind of money.

Depends what kind of life form. If the life form consists of nothing other than really simple protein combinations such as viruses here on earth, I see no reason to make way for more Earth like life. Mars is pretty much a dead planet, with no evidence pointing towards any kind of life, let alone anything with the mechanics to produce chemicals we might need in the future for whatever reason.

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