Terraforming Mars in Just 3 Simple Steps!

In this not-quite-serious video I explain what it would take to terraform Mars and make it habitable for humans.

Correction: At 1 minute 44 second it's the mass that is a tenth that of Earth, not the gravitational pull, which is about 0.4 times that of Earth. The text shows the right numbers. Sorry about that.

0:00 Intro
0:58 Conditions on Mars
2:02 Step 1: Creating a Magnetic Field
4:50 Step 2: Creating an Atmosphere
6:06 Step 3: Converting CO2 to O2
8:46 Sponsor Message

#physics #science #space

[paulosilvafilho]

I love how these three simple tasks are really simple, achievable and, possibly, inexpensive!

[VengerDFW]

"I hear fusion power is almost there..." this is the maximum snark I return for, every time...

[SorinNicu]

Love Sabine's dark humor and sarcasm.
"We can't breath carbon dioxide. I mean, we can, but not for very long." I don't care who you are, that right there is hilarious!

[spacemanspiff]

My new hero! Highly intelligent, dry sarcasm, clarity in communications, and a passion for science. Thanks for sharing with us!!!

[Tletna]

I really appreciate how straight forward and optimistic Sabine is about turning Mars into Earth 2, I'm going to enjoy the lower gravity there. Finally, I'll be able to dunk.

[trevoraboussafy]

I didn’t realize terraforming would be so easy.

[PaperThinSquare]

I’ve been trying to explain to my wife, that your videos always have a bit of hidden humor sarcasm in them. You just got to wait for it, and understand what your listening too.
Well, we didn’t have to wait for it in this one. This was a classic Sabine joke all the way thru.
I love it. Keep up the good info!!!

[collativelearning]

Love it. The over-optimism and over-confidence humans have had for over 60 years that we will soon be colonizing the solar system and the stars is a great source for comedy.

[ShadowTigerKing]

I had no idea there was a world record for stacking m&m's, you really do learn something new everyday.

[williamarnold]

Our track record terraforming Earth has never made me think we should invest in terraforming as an export business.

[robertmiranda]

Whenever I want someone to tell me it can't be done I come to this channel, you never disappoint.

[epiendless]

3 simple steps. I kept thinking of Monty Python's "How to Rid the World of All Known Diseases":
"Well, first of all become a doctor and discover a marvelous cure for something, and then, when the medical profession really starts to take notice of you, you can jolly well tell them what to do and make sure they get everything right so there'll never be any diseases ever again."

[mojoneko]

That was almost evil. You have a wicked sense of humor, had me going for a couple of minutes. : ) Thanks for the video!

[bitskit]

Finally, someone with common sense. Every time someone brings up the idea of terraforming Mars, I've had to go out of my way to explain things like magnetospheres and solar radiation, the importance of an ionosphere to atmospheric pressure, pressure/temperature and the process of sublimation, etc. How about before attempting this absurd and insurmountable task, we try to terraform something that's already on Earth like the entire central region of north america or the Sahara desert.

[NathanRichHotpot]

So you're saying there's a chance!

[tomfillot]

"I mean we can breathe CO2, but not for long"

Technically the truth.

[subashchandra]

Hey sabine. For the magnetic field, there has been much research into "Miniature magnetic fields" to protect astronauts, and consensus seems to be that a solar powered miniature magnetic field generator placed at the Mars-Sun L1 Lagrange Point will be able to provide the same protection as earths magnetic field to Mars. Current simulations are saying that it will be able to almost completely negate the out gassing.

[DigGil]

Well, actually laying a superconductor around the equator of Mars sounds more feasible than other ideas I've seen before.

[Azimus]

Another reason to move to mars: Lower gravity makes more than 5 M&Ms stack possible!

[mdavid]

Great video! Our tendency for "magical thinking" and delusion always haunts us.