The Next 500 Years by Christopher Mason: review
As Earthians, an argument is that you have a moral duty to explore other planets and solar systems, because human life on Earth has an expiration date. Inevitably, life on Earth will come to an end, whether by, Climate disasterCataclysmic war, orThe death of the sun in a few billion years. To avoid extinction, you […]
Circadian Adaptation to the Martian Environment
Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock, running in the background to carry out essential functions and processes. One of the most important and well-known circadian rhythms is the sleep-wake cycle. Different systems of the body follow circadian rhythms that are synchronized with a biological clock in the brain. […]
Arabidopsis thaliana as a Model Organism for Space Research
Arabidopsis thaliana is a small, flowering plant that has been used as a model organism for plant research for over 50 years. It is a fast-growing, easy-to-grow plant that has a well-characterized genome. This makes it an ideal model for studying the effects of space travel on plants. Arabidopsis thaliana has been used to study […]
Why – and How – NASA Gives a Name to Every Spot It Studies on Mars
Mars is a fascinating planet, and scientists have been studying it for centuries. In order to communicate about their findings, scientists need to have a way to refer to specific features on Mars. This is why NASA has a system for naming features on Mars. The process of naming features on Mars needs to be […]
Artificial Photosynthesis Can Produce Food Without Sunshine
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and food. Artificial photosynthesis is a process that mimics photosynthesis, but it does not require sunlight. Instead, artificial photosynthesis uses electricity to convert water and carbon dioxide into food. This process is much more efficient than natural photosynthesis, […]
Agricultural Technologies for Mars Missions
Mars is a harsh environment for agriculture, but there are a number of agricultural technologies that could be used to grow food on the Red Planet. These technologies include: Closed-loop systemsVertical farmingHydroponicsAeroponicsGenetically modified crops These technologies are still in the early stages of development, but they have the potential to make it possible to grow […]
Studying Cool Flames in Microgravity to Improve Engine Efficiency
Cool flames are a type of combustion that occurs at low temperatures and produces relatively little pollution. However, they are difficult to study on Earth because gravity-driven buoyancy forces extinguish them before they can fully establish. To better understand cool flames, scientists need an environment where gravity is removed. This means they need a laboratory […]
Discovery of a New CRISPR-like System in Animals that Can Edit the Human Genome
It’s exciting news about the discovery of a new CRISPR-like system in animals that can edit the human genome. As I talked earlier, now you know, Colonizing Mars may require humanity to tweak its DNA. The newly discovered system, called Fanzor, is based on a protein that uses RNA as a guide to target DNA […]
Human Reproduction in Space
Human reproduction in space is a complex and challenging topic. There are many factors that can affect the ability of humans to reproduce in space, including the effects of microgravity, radiation, and isolation. Here I am reviewing the current state of knowledge on human reproduction in space. I will discuss the different challenges that astronauts […]
Water Recycling for Mars Missions
Water is essential for human survival on Mars. However, there is very little water available on the surface of the planet. This means that any future Mars missions will need to rely on water recycling technologies to provide astronauts with the water they need to survive. Here I am reviewing the current state of water […]