Scientists from Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and the University of Central Florida have proposed making shiny particles from Martian soil, which would then be launched into the Red Planet's atmosphere. These glitter-like particles could increase the heat on Mars and eventually make the planet habitable.
You can imagine Mars as a giant disco ball? Well, that's exactly what scientists who would like to make the red planet a more livable environment imagine. Using shiny particles made from Martian soil could help create a greenhouse effect, thereby warming the surface of Mars. Scientists from Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Central Florida believe it's possible, and their research paper, published on August 7, 2024, describes exactly how it would work.
Martian soil it is rich in iron and aluminum, as confirmed by missions such as NASA's Curiosity. Although these materials do not retain heat by themselves, the researchers found that with proper engineering and particle design, they could create a natural greenhouse effect. These shiny particles, shaped like short rods, could be launched into the atmosphere, where they would reflect sunlight back onto the Martian surface, trapping heat.
Previous attempts and a new solution
Attempts to heat Mars using greenhouse gases are not new. However, proposals to bring the resources from Earth were too expensive and impractical. Therefore, the new idea to use material already present on Mars, such as iron and aluminum, is much more reasonable and economical.
How does glitter powder work?
Once scientists make these glittering nanorods from Martian soil, they will launch them through ground fountains onto the Martian surface. There, these particles will orbit the planet, reflecting sunlight and creating a natural greenhouse effect, which would gradually warm Mars. According to the team's calculations, this warming could cause the temperature to rise by more than 10 degrees Celsius, enough to make the planet suitable for microbial life.
A vision of the future
Planetary scientist Ramses Ramirez of the University of Central Florida says: "Our calculations suggest that the random scattering of these particles will produce a greenhouse effect strong enough to warm large areas of the Martian surface." Although the nature of this study is still theoretical and based on modeling, the scientists believe that other researchers and engineers could use this knowledge to conduct further experiments and explore the possibility of Mars becoming habitable.
The proposal to heat Mars with shiny nanoparticles may still be in its infancy, but it opens the door to many possibilities for future research. If this approach is successful, Mars could one day become a second home for humanity, which would be a giant step in the history of the human species. While we await the results of further research, we can dream of the day we dance under the stars – or rather, under the glittering nanoparticles – on Mars.
