StarTalk Radio Can You Terraform Mars? with Kennda Lynch
Dec 19, 2023
Astrobiologist Kennda Lynch discusses the challenges of living on Mars, growing food using Martian regolith, and the potential for terraforming Mars. They explore the composition of Martian regolith and its potential as a resource, as well as the challenges of terraforming Mars and building up the atmosphere. Lighthearted banter and advertisements are also featured.
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Regolith vs. Soil
- Earth's soil teems with microbes, enabling plant life.
- Martian "regolith" lacks these microbes, making it unsuitable for growing food.
Perchlorate's Danger
- Perchlorate, found on Mars, disrupts thyroid function by competing with iodine.
- Consuming Martian potatoes grown in perchlorate-rich soil could be fatal.
The Martian's Missed Opportunity
- Kennda Lynch, despite being in grad school during "The Martian's" filming, wasn't consulted.
- Today, she'd gladly offer technical support, potentially averting the film's poop-related inaccuracies.