Terraforming, Is it the right thing to do?

[TheLastOne36]

This is a topic that I am really interested about. Terraforming is basically the changing of a planet to make it more Earth-Like, and able to suit and sustain earth life.

Link if you want to expand your knowledge about it.

So my question is, Do you think it is possible? is it possible for humans to do so? would it be practical? and most importantly, is it morally right to do so?

poll up in a bit.

 

[Narz]

It would be morally fine (unless by terraforming it we wiped out intelligent aliens who preferred the original atmosphere) but not practical.

The most practical thing would be to actually take care of the one we're on which is already perfect.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

It absolutely is the right thing to do, if there is no life there.

Its practicality is in theory not questionable, but we could not do it right now if we wanted to. But when and if we do, it will require enormous resources, and cooperation and long-term planning on a level unheard-of in human history.

 

[North King]

Sure it's morally acceptable, unless there's non-Earth life -- multicellular, that is -- already present. Practical? We'll see, but I think so.

 

[Leonel]

If there is already an ecosystem in place, no. However if it's like Mars, then yes.

 

[carmen510]

I would say it depends. I would like places where other Earth-like beings would be able to live, but at what cost to the intrigues of planets and their mysterious surfaces?

 

[TheLastOne36]

I think it will be practical in the future. Morally I have no question.

What do you guys think of terraforming Venus?

 

[Dachs]

What do you guys think of terraforming Venus?

Improbable.

 

[Gooblah]

There's a moral argument to be made.

Say that there is a preexisting ecosystem/indigenous species on a given planet. Now, humans waltz in and terraform, effectively destroying the potential evolution of that planet. Kind of a douchey move IMO.

 

[North King]

What do you guys think of terraforming Venus?

Nice idea when we have the money to waste.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

What do you guys think of terraforming Venus?

I've heard an idea about releasing bacteria into Venus' atmosphere that would devour its sulfur-based atmosphere, but the problem is that the atmosphere is the way that it is because of heavy volcanic activity and geothermal vents on the surface.

A better idea, I think, is to make a floating "cloud city" high in the atmosphere. Simple fluid sacs would be able to keep it buoyant in such a thick atmosphere. Steady winds blow around the planet at high atmospheres that would be able to create day and night on the city (Venus rotates once every 273 Earth days). Also, a level of air pressure could be found up high that is roughly equal to Earth's, such that venturing out into the air at that level would require only the protection of a gas mask.

Of course, the real question is: why would anyone want to live on Venus, or need to?

 

[Narz]

What do you guys think of terraforming Venus?

I'm down. I've heard there are women there.

 

[Azale]

It would be morally fine (unless by terraforming it we wiped out intelligent aliens who preferred the original atmosphere) but not practical.

The most practical thing would be to actually take care of the one we're on which is already perfect.

The Earth is not going to last forever (as a hospitable place for humans), even without serious climate change.

 

[BrendanM]

The Earth is a finite resource.

Humanity will not remain on Earth forever (if it makes it that far). Whether or not intelligent life exists out there it is best for our posterity's future to terraform planets in the future, even at the expense of other extraterrestrials. The only thing I can liken it to is European colonizing the Americas. For better or worse humanity has progressed in technological ways never before imagined.

Humans are the only moral (and by consequence immoral) beings I know. Terraforming is beneficial to all humanity as all humanity would benefit from it.

For humanity to expand humanity has to find more earths or make new ones. There is no other way around it.

 

[Narz]

The Earth is not going to last forever (as a hospitable place for humans), even without serious climate change.

Yeah but trying to find another home now is either premature or too late, either way it's not a wise priority. It's like desperately trying to find another wife (because ours will someday die) when ours is still alive & only thirty-five years old & thousands of times lower maintenance & more able to respond to our needs than any other woman in existence.

 

[GoodGame]

I'd say it was conditionally, ethically ok. And I say that practically, it might be doable in 100-200 years. The main ethical dilemma that we can identify now (with limited foreknowledge) would be: preservation of nature for scientific study vs. expansion of habital biome for humanity. There are further hypothetical dilemmas---e.g. conflict with life on other planets, but they are completely hypothetical at this time.

 

[BrendanM]

Yeah but trying to find another home now is either premature or too late, either way it's not a wise priority. It's like desperately trying to find another wife (because ours will someday die) when ours is still alive & only thirty-five years old & thousands of times lower maintenance & more able to respond to our needs than any other woman in existence.

This is bogus.

The optimal time will never arise if you do not take the steps to get there. Calling it premature is ludicruous or too late is ridiculous (how do you know for certain?).

Earth is our home but it will not be here in some billion years, or tomorrow. The sooner we start germinating the seeds of other realms the better off the chances of humanity.

 

[Onionsoilder]

It depends. If the planet is a barren rock, then sure go ahead. If the planet already has some for of ecosystem developed, then it would be better to leave it as-is and adapt to the planet, rather they forcing the planet to adapt to us.

 

[Narz]

This is bogus.

The optimal time will never arise if you do not take the steps to get there. Calling it premature is ludicruous or too late is ridiculous (how do you know for certain?).

Earth is our home but it will not be here in some billion years, or tomorrow. The sooner we start germinating the seeds of other realms the better off the chances of humanity.

It's not realistic to spend nonrenewable resources scoping out other planets but if you want to play with a few telescopes feel free.

Right now our priority should be on the here & now since it's currently impossible to even sustain life for more than a week or two for one man on the moon.

Don't see what's the resistance in accepting this reality.

 

[BrendanM]

It's not realistic to spend nonrenewable resources scoping out other planets but if you want to play with a few telescopes feel free.

Right now our priority should be on the here & now since it's currently impossible to even sustain life for more than a week or two for one man on the moon.

Don't see what's the resistance in accepting this reality.

Out in space exists near infinite resources for human use.

Not tapping that resource is tantamount to humanities suicide. And stupidity.