Terraforming Venus: Why Nobody Discusses It?

[Tollendal]

I suppose if we develop repulsive machines that theory now seems to permit (see Dr. Immanuel Bloch’s and Ulrich Schneider’s 2013 work of Ludwig Maximilians University and University of Cambridge on negative absolute temperatures), going to Venus will be something reasonably simple and cheap. So, it seems to me it is now in the hands of engineers materialize the trick... Or I'm wrong?

 

[alas666]

As a first step in Venus terraforming I suggest to blow out thick atmosphere, mainly CO2. This could be accomplished with thermonuclear explosion an order of magnitude stronger then one that the have been experienced on earth. The idea is to produce local heat source of the range 5*10^8K to start carbon burning process where C in Venus atmosphere will fuse and release more energy eventually enveloping a whole planet in stellar like conflagration till shock wave front will wrap around planet. Only a very small amount of C will fuse lacking sufficient pressure outside shock wave front, but temperature released will blow remaining CO2 along with dust into planet orbit. Actually, the best would be to have two ignition sources on opposing poles so that conflagration shock will meet at equator forming ejecta circling Venus as eventual disk/ring. This could be used as a permanent shade.

With CO2 blanket gone, wait 100 years ... and then sent some ice comets to replenish it with water and then ... unleash some microbes to do the rest.

 

[rootone]

I don't think it's actually possible to initiate carbon fusion, as happens in the core of massive stars, using mere thermonuclear explosions.
What goes on inside stars has a lot to do with pressure and density due to massive gravity, not just temperature.

 

[Bandersnatch]

Rootone is right. You can't do that with a bomb.

 

[sophiecentaur]

It strikes me that, if you want to start living extra terrestrially, the most efficient way is to choose the Goldilox Zone. Earth is the only actual planet in that location but there's nothing (except money and Energy) preventing humans from building massive micro planets in orbits of about 1AU radius. There is loads of material up there.
The only thing missing would be Earth like gravity but the inhabitants would just develop different physiques, to cope with that.

 

[jibbles]

The venusian atmosphere at ~50 km above the surface has surprisingly terrestrial conditions: a pressure on the order of ~1 atm, temperatures where water can be liquid, and though bone-dry by Earth's standards, the highest concentration of water anywhere on that planet. If there was a way to genetically engineer a cross between a cyannobacterium and one of the species of bacteria that are found flying high in Earth's atmosphere, your idea just might be worth looking into!

 

[rootone]

Venus could have a layer of atmosphere above ground where conditions are not completely hostile for life.
However atmosphere is not a great place for life to get started, organic chemistry could happen, but doesn't stay in the same place for very long.

 

[Stephanus]

@alas666
Send some microbes is ok,
Send some comet for water is ok,
But as the experts say, I think bomb can't do. It takes pressure as well as temperature.
Carl Sagan in one of his books wrote that sending microbe is the solution, although I think Venus lack of hydrogen? So send some comets for water, too.

 

[rootone]

Lack of hydrogen as such wouldn't bother a micro organism, lack of water would.
Without water very little organic chemistry can occur.
Some organism can go for extended periods without water, but they do so in a hibernated state, so they wouldn't do anything useful.

 

[DrStupid]

Send some microbes is ok

The Outer Space Treaty says it's not OK.

Lack of hydrogen as such wouldn't bother a micro organism, lack of water would.

There is no water without hydrogen.

 

[rootone]

Yes, I said 'hydrogen as such' - meaning free gasious hydrogen isn't necessary for life.
It is essential though in the form of water molecules, bonded with oxygen.
There are other chemicals important for life which require hydrogen bound in a molecular form as well.
Sugars and amino acids for example.

 

[Stephanus]

The Outer Space Treaty says it's not OK.

I didn't know there was such treaty. I only know Moon and Antartica.

Lack of hydrogen as such wouldn't bother a micro organism, lack of water would...

There is no water without hydrogen.

I don't mean to be a med expert here, but there are some (micro) organisms that can live "without" water. But of course they would get the H and O (in H₂O) from somewhere else.