Synthetic fluorine-based gases could produce global warming on Mars while also creating an atmosphere conducive to life, say scientists at the NASA Ames Research Centre, California, US.

Conditions on Mars are currently inhospitable for advanced life. Temperatures on the Red Planet currently dip down to -120°C at night near the poles. And the atmospheric pressure on Mars is much less than on Earth as its atmosphere is thinner and its gravity lower.

In order to support life, scientists have proposed transforming Mars into an Earth-like planet in a process called terraforming. And a crucial component of this would be to warm up the planet.

The study found four fluorine-based gases that could be made of elements abundant on the Martian surface. Fluorine excels at absorbing thermal energy. In addition, the gas does not destroy ozone, unlike the greenhouse gases bromine and chlorine.

Not everyone thinks it's a good idea though...

"In principle, it's something which is possible but which I would not advocate," says Andrew Coates at the University College London, UK. He works on the Mars Express spacecraft's ASPERA instrument, which analyses the interaction between the solar wind and Mars's atmosphere. "It's the ultimate in cosmic vandalism; at least until we completely understand the conditions for past or present life on Mars, and we are 100% sure that none is there now."

The argument seems a little moot though, as it would take hundreds, if not thousands, of years. They might need to work on a solution to our own problem with greenhouse gasses first, or there's going to be nobody left to do the terraforming.

Crim

HOPEFUL

Portland, OR

FEB 04, 2005 08:11 PM

venomkid

I'm lost

January 2003

FEB 04, 2005 08:16 PM

GEET YOUAH AAHHSS TO MUAAHHS

_El_Zilcho_

Framingham, MA

April 2003

FEB 04, 2005 08:20 PM

Aww, Kuato's been posted... all I can do is post the 3 boobed chick...

Sivart

Saskatoon, SK

June 2004

FEB 04, 2005 08:47 PM

the whole problem with terraforming mars is that it's too small to support a thick enough atmosphere to support life as we know it. the only real way to make terraforming mars viable would be to somehow make it denser.

Beatnik

Venice, CA

August 2003

FEB 04, 2005 08:47 PM

YAY! Lets ruin other planets too!!!!

ralenn

Denver, CO

July 2003

FEB 04, 2005 09:08 PM

Oh man, another use for this image in less than a week?

Dr_Zoidberg

Raymore, MO

June 2004

FEB 04, 2005 09:12 PM

Well, the polar ice caps shrink and grow through the year, and Mars is still the way it is. Sounds kinda fishy to me...

Seriously though, we have fucked up one planet. Do we have the right to fuck up more, let alone one?

Kaela

Canada

April 2004

FEB 04, 2005 10:19 PM

This article makes me sad. I'm just glad I won't be around to see it if/when it happens.

xgenehawk

USA

December 2004

FEB 04, 2005 10:28 PM

cool, finally we can solve this overpopulation problem here on Earth ...

TheRedBaron

Cambridge, MA

November 2003

FEB 04, 2005 11:31 PM

almostfamous said:
A number of things....

Isnt this the plot of the second star trek movie?

[Edited on Feb 05, 2005 by TheRedBaron]

Dr_Zoidberg

Raymore, MO

June 2004

FEB 04, 2005 11:36 PM

phobetorzero said:
Aww, Kuato's been posted... all I can do is post the 3 boobed chick...

Is this what you wanted?

TheRevolutionary

San Diego, CA

June 2004

FEB 04, 2005 11:39 PM

this is a neat idea!! It would be tropical paradise. mangos, melons mmmmm. we all could just be lovers and eat from the trees. the cool waters that we would swim would be crystal clear. and all the sweet reggae music that sounds sublime.

tommy fucking riot

Admiral_Pants

Austin, TX

May 2004

FEB 05, 2005 12:06 AM

I'm still pissed I don't have a flying car, but this would take some of the sting away.

clintron

Portsmouth, NH

September 2003

FEB 05, 2005 12:12 AM

Cool. Now let's go drill for oil in the ANWR!

superstringboy

Salinas, CA

October 2004

FEB 05, 2005 01:11 AM

And my news article about something relevant, wasn't posted.

This is like, 30 year old news.

c'mon, editors? what the hell?

superstringboy

Salinas, CA

October 2004

FEB 05, 2005 01:13 AM

by the way. read the mars trilogy for actual relevant social discourse and scientific theory on how this actually works.

even if it is speeded up 1000% for plot purposes.

great books, if topics like this interest you.

Author: Kim Stanley Robinson
Books: Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars.

Alot more thought provoking than total recall, kids.

JoshXXX

Northborough, MA

March 2004

FEB 05, 2005 02:06 AM

Dr_Zoidberg said:

phobetorzero said:
Aww, Kuato's been posted... all I can do is post the 3 boobed chick...

Is this what you wanted?

You know, one of those is paper mache/

Dr_Zoidberg

Raymore, MO

June 2004

FEB 05, 2005 03:32 AM

JoshXXX said:

Dr_Zoidberg said:

phobetorzero said:
Aww, Kuato's been posted... all I can do is post the 3 boobed chick...

Is this what you wanted?

You know, one of those is paper mache/

Yes, but which one?