Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

What Elon Musk Isn't Telling You About Colonizing Mars w/ Zach Weinersmith [Ep. 434]

Jun 30, 2024

Cartoonist Zach Weinersmith and host Brian Keating explore the challenges and allure of settling Mars, discussing issues like space psychology, economics, and the hard physics of colonizing space. They question Elon Musk's obsession with Mars and delve into the complexities of creating a settlement on the red planet.

01:04:02

Episode guests

Zach Weinersmith

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Establishing a settlement on Mars faces challenges such as radiation exposure and resource scarcity.

Long-duration space travel to Mars poses significant medical risks like bone density loss and cancer.

Innovative strategies like underground habitats and resource utilization are essential for sustainable Martian settlements.

Deep dives

Challenges of Space Settlement

Space exploration raises questions about the practicality and feasibility of establishing a settlement on Mars. The limitations of other celestial bodies like Mercury, Venus, and the gas giants emphasize the appeal of Mars for potential colonization efforts. Factors such as radiation exposure, gravitational challenges, and the lack of resources on the Moon pose significant hurdles to sustaining life beyond Earth. Despite potential advancements in technology, the difficulties associated with reaching Mars and establishing a livable environment highlight the complex dynamics of space settlement.

Intro

3min

Exploring Mars and City Planning for Survival

4min

Exercise Requirements for Astronauts in Space

5min

Challenges and Possibilities of Mars Colonization

5min

Colonizing Mars: Science, Challenges, and Societal Considerations

25min

Exploring Author Appreciation and Book Reading Etiquette

3min

Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Mars Colonization

16min

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Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through?

The allure of a fresh start on a new planet has captivated humans for a very long time, and now, public figures like Elon Musk are trying to make it a reality. But should we? Is it even possible? And how would life on Mars even look like?

These are the questions Zach and Kelly Weinersmith tackled with a deep expertise and winning sense of humor in their new book, A City on Mars, which has become an instant bestseller.

Zach is a cartoonist and writer best known for his webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal (SMBC). Outside of SMBC, he has worked on a sketch comedy series, a podcast, and multiple other webcomics. Kelly, on the other hand, is a biologist, writer, and podcaster. She is a faculty member in the Department of BioSciences at Rice University and an alumni collaborator with the Parasite Ecology Group at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Today, Zach is joining me on Into the Impossible to discuss whether and how to become multi-planetary.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro
00:01:22 Elon Musk’s obsession with Mars
00:04:38 Why Mars?
00:12:11 Why not just build bunkers underground?
00:18:03 Judging a book by its cover
00:19:37 Space psychology
00:29:16 The hard physics of colonizing space
00:36:22 The economics of space exploration
00:43:34 Audience questions
00:56:35 Elon Musk’s bizarre notions about space
01:01:17 Outro

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➡️ Connect with Zach Weinersmith:

💻 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zachweinersmith

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZachWeiner/

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✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

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