#140 - Pourra-t-on vivre sur Mars ?

Dans ce roman de science-fiction, Mark Watney, un astronaute de la NASA, se retrouve seul sur Mars après que son équipage a dû évacuer la planète en urgence. Avec sa double formation de botaniste et d'ingénieur, il doit résoudre une série de problèmes techniques pour survivre. Il cultive des pommes de terre, utilise de l'hydrazine pour produire de l'eau et tente de reprendre contact avec la Terre. La NASA et son équipage lancent des opérations de sauvetage complexes, mettant en jeu la vie de Mark et celle de ses coéquipiers. Le roman est connu pour son réalisme scientifique et sa description détaillée des défis techniques et humains de la survie sur Mars[1][2][5].

Set in 1999, 'Make Room Make Room!' depicts a dystopian New York City plagued by overpopulation, food shortages, and societal collapse. The novel follows characters like Detective Andy Rusch as they navigate this grim world, highlighting themes of unsustainable consumption and societal fracture. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked population growth and resource depletion.

The book, commissioned by the Club of Rome, uses the World3 computer model to simulate the consequences of interactions between human systems and the Earth. It examines five basic factors: population increase, agricultural production, nonrenewable resource depletion, industrial output, and pollution generation. The authors conclude that if current growth trends continue, the Earth's resources will be depleted, leading to a sudden and uncontrollable decline in population and industrial capacity. However, the book also offers a message of hope, suggesting that forward-looking policy could prevent such outcomes if humanity acts promptly to reduce inefficiency and waste.

The book is a literary adaptation of the film 'Interstellar', staying true to the plot and narrative. It chronicles the journey of a group of astronauts, led by Cooper, who embark on an interstellar voyage through a newly discovered wormhole to find a habitable planet for the survival of humanity. The story delves into themes of time dilation, black holes, relativity, and the emotional bond between Cooper and his daughter Murph, as he navigates the challenges of saving humanity while dealing with the personal cost of his mission.