Researchers from the University of Chicago and Harvard are spearheading a renewed effort to make Mars habitable. Their proposed phased plan, detailed in a recent Nature Astronomy paper, outlines innovative strategies for terraforming the Red Planet. The plan addresses the major obstacles to habitability: the lack of a thick, breathable atmosphere and the planet's frigid temperatures.
Three-Phase Approach
The initial phase involves using abiotic climate engineering techniques to warm the Martian surface. This includes deploying reflective solar sails, dispersing nanoparticles, or laying aerogel tiles to increase the surface temperature by at least 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). This warming would melt subsurface ice and release trapped carbon dioxide, thickening the atmosphere and potentially supporting stable liquid water.
The second phase focuses on introducing extremophile microbes, likely anaerobic and genetically engineered, to survive in Mars' harsh conditions. These microorganisms would initiate ecological succession by producing oxygen and organic matter, gradually altering the planet's chemistry.
Ultimately, the long-term goal is to create a Mars with stable liquid water, breathable oxygen, and a thriving ecosystem. While full terraforming may take centuries or millennia, these initial steps could pave the way for future human settlements and the propagation of life beyond Earth.
The researchers emphasize that technologies developed for Mars terraforming, such as desiccation-resistant crops and improved ecosystem modeling, could also benefit Earth. Upcoming Mars surface missions in 2028 or 2031 should include small-scale experiments to test terraforming strategies, such as warming localized regions.