44 replies to this topic

[Hum]

A a group of scientists in Scotland are publishing a paper in the journal Advances in Space Research that contemplates using asteroid dust to shield the Earth from solar radiation, thus mitigating the effects of global warming.

The idea has some problems, however.

The plan, according to Space.com, would be to capture an asteroid -- 1036 Ganymed, for preference -- and use a mass driver to throw out material from it to move it to the L1 point, the Earth Moon Lagrange Point that lay directly between the Earth and moon. Then the same mass driver would create a stream of asteroid dust that would surround the Earth and block out enough solar radiation to cancel out the effects of global warming, giving the world enough time to switch from a carbon based energy economy to something else.

According to JPL, 1036 Ganymed is the largest known Earth-approaching asteroid, with a diameter of about 32 kilometers. It is an S type asteroid, meaning that it is composed of metallic iron mixed with iron- and magnesium-silicates. Space.com states that the asteroid has a mass of 130 million-billion kg. Using it as a source of a dust shield would create a cloud of 5 million-billion kilograms stretching about 2,600 kilometers wide.

According to Space.com, the scientists behind the proposal concede that politically moving such an enormous mass close to Earth would be difficult at best. An accident or a miscalculation could cause 1036 Ganymed to hit the Earth, which would end human civilization and likely a considerable amount of the biosphere.

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[shockz]

Hum, on 01 October 2012 - 19:27, said:

According to Space.com, the scientists behind the proposal concede that politically moving such an enormous mass close to Earth would be difficult at best. An accident or a miscalculation could cause 1036 Ganymed to hit the Earth, which would end human civilization and likely a considerable amount of the biosphere.
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I think I'll take global warming over that..

[theyarecomingforyou]

Hum, on 01 October 2012 - 19:27, said:

According to Space.com, the scientists behind the proposal concede that politically moving such an enormous mass close to Earth would be difficult at best. An accident or a miscalculation could cause 1036 Ganymed to hit the Earth, which would end human civilization and likely a considerable amount of the biosphere.

So it's a win-win?

[Solid Knight]

The easiest way to end global warming is to build a super big A/C that vents into space.

[rippleman]

global warming is a temporary condition It happens from time to time just like the Ice ages. Once you have this "dust" shield, you would then also have to remove it (or clean it up) once the earth started to cool again. The earth has looked after itself for 4 billion years, i figure it can handle this global warming thing on its own. We, on the other hand, will just have to hang in there and enjoy the ride nature takes us on. This one sadly is beyond our control for now.

[TPreston]

rippleman, on 01 October 2012 - 19:38, said:

global warming is a temporary condition It happens from time to time just like the Ice ages. Once you have this "dust" shield, you would then also have to remove it (or clean it up) once the earth started to cool again. The earth has looked after itself for 4 billion years, i figure it can handle this global warming thing on its own. We, on the other hand, will just have to hang in there and enjoy the ride nature takes us on. This one sadly is beyond our control for now.

Im no rocket scientist but i think there might be a tiny chance that pumping 26 gigatonnes of CO2 per year into earths atmosphere might have an effect on our climate

[tiagosilva29]

We should set up an electromagnetic shield.

[Detection]

http://meninblack.wi...i/ArcNet_Shield

[+sanke1]

This is trolling at finest. Instead start compulsarily implementing green eco friendly technologies in vehicles NOW. The technologies are there. Just there is no political will.

[+Phouchg]

Hum, on 01 October 2012 - 19:27, said:

An accident or a miscalculation could cause 1036 Ganymed to hit the Earth, which would end human civilization and likely a considerable amount of the biosphere.

Or Batarian terrorists...

[+Crisp]

I'm just up for migrating to Mars...

or URanus lulz.

[rippleman]

TPreston, on 01 October 2012 - 19:42, said:

Im no rocket scientist but i think there might be a tiny chance that pumping 26 gigatonnes of CO2 per year into earths atmosphere might have an effect on our climate

nature does that more in a single event... the volcano that erupted in the phillipines put more CO2 in the atmosphere in one single event that humans have done in their ENTIRE existence. Humans causing global warming is like saying ants are killing the US transportation infrastructure.

[TPreston]

rippleman, on 01 October 2012 - 20:06, said:

nature does that more in a single event... the volcano that erupted in the phillipines put more CO2 in the atmosphere in one single event that humans have done in their ENTIRE existence. Humans causing global warming is like saying ants are killing the US transportation infrastructure.

[citation needed] but i fully expect you to come through with this and overturn the current state of climate science

[insert humerus comparison to creationists carbon dating claims]

[XerXis]

rippleman, on 01 October 2012 - 20:06, said:

nature does that more in a single event... the volcano that erupted in the phillipines put more CO2 in the atmosphere in one single event that humans have done in their ENTIRE existence. Humans causing global warming is like saying ants are killing the US transportation infrastructure.

http://news.discover...ate-110627.html

Quote

Despite statements made by climate change deniers, volcanoes release a tiny fraction of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by human activities every year.
In fact, humans release roughly 135 times more carbon dioxide annually than volcanoes do, on average, according a new analysis. Put another way, humans emit in under three days the amount that volcanoes typically release in a year, according to the best estimates of volcanic emissions.

Don't believe everything you hear unless they/you can back it up with numbers

[The Laughing Man]

I hope the asteroid they pick doesn't contain the black cancer.