John Corbett takes a look at suggestions from those who think we should consider moving to another planet.
What happens if Planet Earth becomes uninhabitable? This question has occupied the minds of scientists for many years. The late Stephen Hawking was of the opinion that we should be taking positive steps to evacuate our terrestrial base in the coming years and several others share the same opinion.
So we ask: would it be possible to survive on another planet? Are we destined to remain earth-bound or is it possible that we could adapt to a new environment in another orb?
They are just some of the thoughts that come to mind when we examine the issue.
At present we struggle to cope with conditions on earth so one can only imagine how much more difficult it would be in new surroundings in a different planet.
In Ireland we complain about the weather and we tend to get upset when it interferes with our plans. People in other countries have greater reasons for complaint. In mountainous regions and at southern and northern latitudes, there are howling gales and freezing cold, while in desert and equatorial areas, there is unbearable heat to contend with.
Added to these are: tsunamis, earthquakes, avalanches and disasters of various kinds not to mention diseases and frequent epidemics like Covid-19 for example.
Yet, in spite of all of this, our terrestrial abode has proven to be a relatively hospitable place in which to live. This is brought home to us when we examine the situation in the celestial bodies closest to us and consider the possibility of settling on one of them.