Latest news with #RedPlanet
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Reveal Easy Three-Step Plan to Terraform Mars
Terraforming, the act of radically transforming a planet's climate and environment to make it suitable for human habitation, currently belongs to the realm of science-fiction. But it's possible, at least in theory, and the idea of terraforming our nearest candidate planet for off-world colonization, Mars, has captivated us for generations. But how would we even begin to pull off such a monumental feat of engineering? You can basically boil it down to three simple steps, argue the authors of a recent study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, who are encouraged by recent breakthroughs in several fields. "Thirty years ago, terraforming Mars wasn't just hard — it was impossible," lead author Erika DeBenedictis, CEO of Pioneer Labs, told "But new technology like Starship and synthetic biology have now made it a real possibility." The inclusion of Starship, the Elon-Musk owned SpaceX megarocket, may warrant some pushback, since it's faced several high-profile failures and is likely far from being completed. But the fact that a spacecraft of its scale is even being attempted at all is at least worth something. Alright, but assuming we can make the trip to the Red Planet, how do we turn it into something approaching a green one? Recent advances in Mars science suggest that the planet's vast stores of ice harbor enough water to form an ocean around 1,000 feet deep across 3,800,000 million square miles of the planet. And according to the study, these frigid seas-in-waiting could start melting with a temperature increase of at least 30 degrees Celsius. (There also appears to be subterranean oceans hidden beneath the surface.) So that's the first step. One way this could be achieved is by harnessing solar sails as mirrors to focus more light on the planet. This could be combined with dispersing aerosols in the atmosphere to accelerate the greenhouse effect, while techniques such as coating the Martian surface with particles called silica aerogels could help drive heating locally. Combined, the researchers estimated that the 30 degrees of warming could be achieved within the century. The next step involves getting a little help from tiny, anaerobic creatures that can survive the harshest environments: extremophiles. To serve as "pioneer species," we would likely have to genetically engineer these organisms so they can withstand Mars' low pressure and its cold temperatures, which swing wildly. As the planet's ancient water is liberated from its icy tombs, the first surfaces bodies of water will be extremely salty brines, which many microbes on Earth are capable of surviving, the authors write. Once these microbial critters take hold, they'd go to work reforming the planet's chemistry and laying the groundwork for a food-producing ecosystem. The final phase, however, is both the longest and most ambitious: shoring up the Martian atmosphere so that it can support diverse plant life and other organisms. To pull it off, terraformers would need to create at least a 100 millibar oxygen atmosphere, the authors write, or about a tenth of the Earth's average atmosphere at sea level. We could initially achieve this in large, 100-meter-tall domed habitats, they speculate. Outside of these habitats, the spread of plant life would passively contribute oxygen to the atmosphere — but this process on its own would take a millennium. We could artificially accelerate this, write the authors, by freeing oxygen from the melted water, but more research is needed to determine if the materials necessary to accomplish that are abundant on Mars so that they wouldn't be required to be imported from Earth in prohibitively large quantities. "We now know that Mars was habitable in the past, from data returned by the Mars rovers, so greening Mars could be viewed as the ultimate environmental restoration challenge," coauthor Edwin Kite, an associate professor at the University of Chicago, told As tempting as it would be for humanity to rise to the challenge, there are serious ethical and scientific questions to be raised about terraforming an entire planet, especially one that may have harbored life in the past, or perhaps still does. "If we decide to terraform Mars, then we will really change it in ways that may or may not be reversible," coauthor Nina Lanza, a planetary scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, told "Mars is its own planet and has its own history. When we terraform, then we effectively don't have the opportunity to study that anymore, and we may lose knowledge about how planets form and evolve." Of course, this remains speculative — it's serious speculation, but speculation all the same. For all the promising advances we've made, we still haven't proven we can send a tiny payload of samples back from Mars, or even demonstrate that our putative best shot of getting there, Starship, is spaceworthy. But, as they say: all in good time. More on Mars: Elon Musk's "Hubris and Arrogance" Are Ruining Our Chances of Actually Getting to Mars, Says Leading Expert
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UAE firm introduces long-lasting meals designed to be eaten up to 25 years later
All meals are halal-certified and crafted to retain flavor and nutrition for 25 years/ Image: RedPlanet In a groundbreaking development for food security and emergency preparedness, a UAE-based company, Red Planet, is introducing ready-to-eat meals that can remain consumable for up to 25 years. These ultra-long shelf-life meals are made possible by cutting-edge freeze-drying technology that retains taste, nutrition, and safety, all without artificial preservatives or refrigeration. The process, as explained by Jassim Al Nowais, CEO of Red Planet, involves removing more than 95 per cent of moisture from the food in a carefully controlled environment. 'We start by removing moisture from the food in a controlled environment, which helps retain its original taste, texture, and, most importantly, nutritional value,' said Al Nowais. 'From there, we seal it in multi-layered, oxygen-absorbing packaging that protects against light, air, and moisture. This ensures the product stays safe, fresh, and nutritious for up to 25 years, without refrigeration or preservatives. ' More Than Shelf Life: A Commitment to Food Security Though the products have not yet reached UAE retail shelves, Red Planet has already completed a fully developed menu and is targeting critical sectors including: Humanitarian aid organisations Armed forces Space agencies Government institutions Al Nowais emphasized the broader mission behind the technology: 'We don't just focus on extending shelf life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo For us, food security is about more than storing something for emergencies — it's about having access to reliable, nutritious food that people would actually want to eat, whether it's five, ten, or even twenty-five years from now,' he said. While retail availability is in the pipeline, Red Planet has been actively promoting its innovation to strategic partners and global stakeholders. Most recently, it participated in the Saudi Food Show 2025, held from May 12 to 14 in Riyadh, where the company showcased how its solutions contribute to sustainability, emergency preparedness, and long-term nourishment across the region. Diverse, Halal-Certified Menu with Local Flavour Red Planet's offerings are both diverse and culturally conscious. The firm provides a mix of local Emirati dishes and international favourites, all of which are halal-certified. Their ready-to-eat menu includes: Chicken biryani Meat machboos Balaleet with eggs Scrambled eggs Pasta with minced meat Vegetable rice Each recipe is engineered to maintain its original flavour and nutritional profile even in extreme conditions. 'We're not just offering variety for the sake of it. Every dish is carefully crafted to retain its flavour, texture, and nutritional content, even in the harshest environments,' Al Nowais said. 'To us, food is more than fuel, it's a source of comfort, a reminder of home, and a key element of resilience.' Looking Ahead: Approvals and Retail Launch Red Planet is currently in the final stages of obtaining regulatory approvals in the UAE, a crucial step before products reach store shelves. 'This isn't just a formality, it's a core part of our promise to deliver food that's not only safe and high-quality, but also trusted by the communities and institutions we serve,' said Al Nowais. 'I personally oversee this part of the process because it matters deeply to us.' Once the green light is received from regulators, consumers in the UAE can expect to see Red Planet meals available for retail purchase, marking a major step in accessible, long-lasting, and high-quality food security solutions made in the UAE.
Bloomberg
12-06-2025
- Science
- Bloomberg
Trump Plan to Kill Dozens of NASA Missions Threatens US Space Supremacy
NASA's car-sized Perseverance rover has been roaming the surface of Mars for four years, drilling into the alien soil to collect dirt it places in tubes and leaves on the ground. Engineers designed Perseverance to be the first step in the agency's exploration of the Red Planet. In the future, more robotic spacecraft would arrive to sweep up the capsules and rocket them back to Earth, where scientists could look for signs that Mars once was, or is, a world with life.
Khaleej Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Coming soon to UAE: Firm creates meals that can be consumed for up to 25 years
A UAE-based company is set to introduce ready-to-eat meals that can remain consumable for up to 25 years, thanks to advanced freeze-drying technology. Red Planet, the company behind this innovation, uses a process that removes more than 95 per cent of moisture from food while preserving its taste, nutritional value, and safety — without the need for artificial preservatives. "We start by removing moisture from the food in a controlled environment, which helps retain its original taste, texture, and, most importantly, nutritional value," said Jassim Al Nowais, CEO of Red Planet. "From there, we seal it in multi-layered, oxygen-absorbing packaging that protects against light, air, and moisture. This ensures the product stays safe, fresh, and nutritious for up to 25 years — without refrigeration or preservatives." Although Red Planet hasn't launched its products in retail stores yet, Al Nowais said the fully developed menu is ready to serve a range of critical sectors including humanitarian aid organisations, armed forces, space agencies, and government bodies. "We don't just focus on extending shelf life. For us, food security is about more than storing something for emergencies — it's about having access to reliable, nutritious food that people would actually want to eat, whether it's five, ten, or even twenty-five years from now," he added. Al Nowais also confirmed that retail is part of the company's long-term strategy. Red Planet recently participated in the Saudi Food Show 2025, held from May 12 to 14 in Riyadh, where it showcased how its long-life meals can support food sustainability, emergency preparedness, and long-term nourishment across the region. Diverse, halal-certified menu The company offers a wide variety of meals, including local favourites such as chicken biryani, meat machboos, balaleet with eggs, and scrambled eggs, as well as international options like pasta with minced meat and vegetable rice. All meals meet halal standards. 'We're not just offering variety for the sake of it. Every dish is carefully crafted to retain its flavour, texture, and nutritional content — even in the harshest environments,' said Al Nowais. 'To us, food is more than fuel — it's a source of comfort, a reminder of home, and a key element of resilience.' As a UAE-based firm, Red Planet sees its first responsibility as supporting life-saving sectors and contributing to regional stability. 'We are currently in the final stages of obtaining regulatory approvals in the UAE,' Al Nowais noted. 'This isn't just a formality — it's a core part of our promise to deliver food that's not only safe and high-quality, but also trusted by the communities and institutions we serve. I personally oversee this part of the process because it matters deeply to us.' He expressed confidence that once the final approvals are secured, consumers will soon see Red Planet meals on store shelves.
NDTV
06-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
The Promise And Peril Of A Crewed Mars Mission
A crewed mission to Mars would rank among the most complex and costly undertakings in human history -- and US President Donald Trump has vowed to make it a national priority. That political momentum, coupled with SpaceX chief Elon Musk's zeal, has breathed new life into a cause long championed by Red Planet advocates -- even as major obstacles remain, including Trump and Musk's latest feud. Why go? As NASA writes in its Moon to Mars blueprint, "exploration of the cosmos remains a great calling for humanity." A mission to Mars would pursue scientific objectives like determining whether Mars ever hosted life and charting the evolution of its surface, as well as answering broader space physics questions -- such as the history of the Sun through studying Martian soil. Geopolitics also looms large, as Trump has pledged to "plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond," invoking the "unlimited promise of the American dream." Critics, however, say cuts to NASA's science budget and the cancellation of key projects -- including the return of rock samples collected by the Perseverance rover -- are undermining the research mission. "The purpose of exploration is not just to go somewhere," Nobel-winning astrophysicist John Mather told AFP. "This is not a tourist thing. This is a fundamental knowledge thing." Getting there Musk is betting SpaceX's future on Starship, the largest rocket ever built, despite fiery failures in its nine test flights. He's aiming for an uncrewed launch by late 2026, timed with the next favorable Earth-Mars alignment. But the timeline is widely seen as optimistic: Starship has yet to land its upper stage or demonstrate in-orbit refueling -- both essential for deep space travel. Some experts believe the system is fundamentally sound, while others say it's too soon to judge. "A lot of the pertinent and relevant technical information... is not known to us," Kurt Polzin, chief engineer for NASA's space nuclear propulsion project, told AFP. He backs Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP), which uses fission to heat hydrogen and generate thrust. NTP delivers "a lot of power in a very small package," Polzin said, eliminating the need for orbital refueling or fuel production on Mars. Astronauts would spend seven to nine months in a cramped spacecraft, exposed to intense space radiation beyond Earth's magnetosphere. Ideas to improve radiation shielding range from passive methods, like using dense materials, to active concepts such as plasma fields that deflect radiation, while drugs are being developed to reduce cell damage. Without a system to simulate gravity -- such as rotational spin -- crews would also need grueling exercise routines to counteract muscle and bone loss. Mental health is another concern. Growing plants aboard -- more for morale than sustenance -- has proved beneficial on the ISS. Communication delays further complicate matters. On the station, real-time data has helped prevent an average of 1.7 potentially fatal incidents per year, said Erik Antonsen, chair of NASA's human systems risk board -- but such communication will not be possible en route to Mars. Life on Mars Once on the surface, the uncertainties grow. Probes and rovers have found hints -- organic molecules, seasonal methane -- but no definitive signs of life. If it ever existed, it likely died out long ago. Still, Earth's own "extremophiles" offer intriguing clues -- from fungi that harness Chernobyl's radiation for energy, to microbes that survived 500,000 years in frozen stasis. "If they can survive here in extreme environments, we have every reason to suspect they can be on Mars," said NASA astrobiologist Jennifer Eigenbrode at the recent Humans to the Moon and Mars Summit. And while NASA has decided nuclear fission will power surface operations, other choices -- from crop selection to habitat design -- remain open. "Mars has a 24-hour, 39-minute day -- that small difference creates strain, increases stress, and reduces sleep quality," said Phnam Bagley, a space architect who designs for comfort and crew well-being -- critical factors in preventing conflict. The first trip would be around 500 days on the surface, but long-term colonization raises deeper questions. For instance, scientists don't yet know whether mammalian embryos can develop in low gravity -- or what childbirth on Mars would entail. "I think it's really important to take that seriously," said NASA's Antonsen. "Even if you don't plan on it happening, people are still going to have sex, and somebody might get pregnant. Then it becomes a medical issue."
