/sci/ - Science & Math

So today I learnt about derivatives by first principles and then by rule. To be honest I feel like I am cheating myself and first principles looks pretty. Anybody else enjoy first principles?

Pic unrelated but science

So there is hope of a manned mission to mars by 2030, and I know it would take thousands of years, but don't you think terraforming Mars would be a good thing to have. Because if we fuck up this planet we can go and fuck up mars as well. The process is fairly simple though, place life forms that can take in the CO2 and expel oxygen, while being resistant to radiation. Once that happens Greenhouse gases can be used to help create an atmosphere. Blah blah blah you have heard it all before, but do you think it is an endeavour worth pursuing?

>>3911521
Abso-fucking-lutely.

>>3817053
This is overhyped as a problem for colonists. Even a 500 millibar atmosphere would be sufficient, as because of Mars' 0.376Gs the atmosphere would have over two times the scale height of Earth's providing lots of insulation. Aerosols that further absorb such radiation could be dispersed in the higher atmosphere. And it's not out of the question that 100 years from now we'll know how to create an artificial magnetic field that could be scaled up to protect Mars even further.

>>3817006
Mars HAS free water. The reason Mars doesn't have oceans today in its northern latitudes as well as Hellas Basin is specifically because of the too-thin atmosphere not able to hold enough heat as well as a very narrow temperature band before ice flashes into cold steam. If Mars' albedo was brought down a little lower by carbon dust or dark algae on the lighter regions such as the polar caps, or even orbital mirrors reflecting additional heat, there would be enough outgassing to AT LEAST allow small seas to form in equatorial regions.
We know how to convert carbon dioxide which Mars is abundant in to oxygen, it covers much of the planet and has the additional benefit of self-replicating endlessly in a variety of forms. The bigger problem is nitrogen, which Mars is relatively deficient in. Nitrogen shuttles from Titan will likely be required for this.

>>3512038
>1) That would take assloads of energy.
Nothing automation for the creation of a *lot* of solar panels cannot fix.
>2) Solar winds will blow away any atmosphere you create since mars has lolnomagneticfield
Over millions and millions of years.
http://bigthink.com/ideas/24011
Answer: You are absolutely correct. Mars is a small planet, and hence it's gravitational field is not strong enough to permanently hold onto a dense atmosphere, but it is sufficient to hold onto an atmosphere for thousands to millions of years, which is enough for us. Once we terraform Mars, there will be enough of an atmosphere to take of all our needs for generations to come.

>>3512043
Magnetic fields don't have to only be produced by the innards of a planet. With advancing technology I reckon we'll have the know-how for creating an artificial magnetic field to the scale of Mars. But even if we cannot, remember that Mars gets 47% of the sunlight and solar wind Earth does, and therefore is not such a serious problem. Because of the lower gravity (0.376Gs) the atmosphere is not quite as squished, which provides a 2.5x thicker protective blanket from harmful particles from the sun.

Dramatic increase in living standards, education, and positive attitude toward birth control across the world.

Also when senescence treatments come 'round mandatory sterilization for those that want the treatment.

Also needs moar terraforming

>>2534756
Unfortunately I do not, but I do have a fairly extensive library of images of Mars after terraforming.

>Terraformed Mars

Che - no wait, still working on that one.

Well, two out of three ain't bad.

how do we get enough volatiles there (water) cheaply (moving comets is expensive)
also
we have to get the atmosphere thick enough to last 300 million years (thick enough for people to breathe), this entails moving billions of comets.