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submitted 11 months ago by meyotch@slrpnk.net to c/technology@lemmy.world

A book review on the latest Weinersmith creation. It’s true, there is so much we don’t know.

Just throwing this out there on this forum because missing technology is the problem that kills the dream of Mars, according to the authors.

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[-] SCB@lemmy.world 29 points 11 months ago

One of the things standing in the way of an"civilization" on Antarctica is that it's illegal to build a civilization on Antarctica. We could absolutely do it, assuming we were willing to fight a war and the resources were worth it

[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

illegal

Oh, right... that is what has stopped the Phony Starks from building capitalist Utopia in Antartica - it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it's utterly inhospitable to human civilization at all.

[-] SCB@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

That and lack of exploitable resources, meaning a lack of capital. There's no shortage of capital for the modern space age.

[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

exploitable resource

Yeah... because Antarctica lacks water. And wind energy. And some of the most protein-rich waters on the planet.

Poor, poor Phony Starks... imagine being held back by legislation they could easily bribe into non-existence if they wanted!

[-] SCB@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Because Antarctica lacks water

We're not exactly hurting for water

And some of the most protein-rich waters on the planet.

This doesn't require building a civilization of any sort

[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

We’re not exactly hurting for water

Oh really?

This doesn’t require building a civilization of any sort

I guess you're the kind of fantasist that believe they invent food at the supermarket, eh?

[-] SCB@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

California is a localized problem, as all water shortages are, because we live on a fucking water planet.

Fishing does not require supermarkets. It requires driving a boat to where fish are, then driving home.

[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

because we live on a fucking water planet.

So... not like Mars?

It requires driving a boat

And the boat will be useful on Mars because...?

[-] SCB@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

You're talking about Antarctica. Pick a topic.

[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Pick a topic.

Soooo... you agree that Antarctica has tons of resources which Mars doesn't.

Remind me... which one is your hero Phony Stark planning to build his capitalist Utopia in again?

[-] ourob@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 11 months ago

Doesn’t the outer space treaty place similar restrictions on mars?

[-] SCB@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

AFAIK it only prevents weaponization of space.

[-] ourob@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 11 months ago

It also prohibits countries from claiming sovereignty, and it actually used the Antarctic treaty for inspiration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty

Which is not to say that it’s exactly the same situation as Antarctica, but the treaties are more similar than you might assume.

[-] FaceDeer@kbin.social 3 points 11 months ago

It prohibits countries from claiming sovereignty over territory beyond Earth, but the colonies themselves can still be sovereign. Assuming the treaty continues as it is it just means that countries won't be able to draw borders around vast lifeless regions on Mars or the Moon and claim jurisdiction over them, they'll still be able to build cities there and the cities will be theirs to control.

Treaties like these lapse or get amended over time as the realities of life make them obsolete, though. I expect that once there are cities on Mars there'll be borders as well.

[-] SCB@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Yeah it's just that the sheer scale of planetary colonization kind of makes this a problem for the year 4,000 or so.

this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2023
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