Three Reasons Why Elon Musk Will FAIL To Colonize Mars | Zach Weinersmith [Ep. 434]
14,282
Published 2024-06-30
Can we settle Mars, and have we really thought this through?
The allure of a fresh start on a new planet has captivated humans for a very long time, and now, public figures like Elon Musk are trying to make it a reality. But should we? Is it even possible? And what would life on Mars even look like?
These are the questions Zach and Kelly Weinersmith tackled with a deep expertise and winning sense of humor in their new book, A City on Mars, which has become an instant bestseller.
Zach is a cartoonist and writer best known for his webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal (SMBC). Outside of SMBC, he has worked on a sketch comedy series, a podcast, and multiple other webcomics. Kelly, on the other hand, is a biologist, writer, and podcaster. She is a faculty member in the Department of BioSciences at Rice University and an alumni collaborator with the Parasite Ecology Group at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Today, Zach is joining me on Into the Impossible to discuss whether and how to become multi-planetary.
Tune in!
Key Takeaways:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:22 Elon Musk’s obsession with Mars
00:05:03 Why Mars?
00:12:36 Why not just build bunkers underground?
00:18:03 Judging a book by its cover
00:19:36 Space psychology
00:29:15 The hard physics of colonizing space
00:36:21 The economics of space exploration
00:43:32 Audience questions
00:56:33 Elon Musk’s bizarre notions about space
01:01:08 Outro
Additional resources:
➡️ Connect with Zach Weinersmith:
💻 Patreon: www.patreon.com/zachweinersmith
✖️ Twitter: twitter.com/ZachWeiner/
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: twitter.com/DrBrianKeating
🔔 YouTube: youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1
📝 Join my mailing list: briankeating.com/list
✍️ Check out my blog: briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/
🎙️ Follow my podcast: briankeating.com/podcast
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
#intotheimpossible #elonmusk #zachweinersmith
All Comments (21)
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Will Elon Musk ever live on Mars?
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Weinersmith is an appropriate last name for a guy like this. Every era of history has had its Weinersmiths.
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We are colonizing the galaxy. These two guys probably wont...but humans and our robots will.
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Why Mars??? Because the Sun is too hot, even if you go at night.
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You two are sooooo very King James the First. For those who don’t know. He was very against the colonization of America citing the enormous cost and loss of life. Seems like he may have been wrong😂
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I think you both underestimate the human desire for adventure and to forge a new world and civilization.
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Many of us would willingly be part of a one-way-only Mars trip if we believed we were setting up a city for those who will follow.
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Step one --> Must land at least 2 nuclear power plants on Mars. Why has nobody talked about this ?? It's obvious.
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It's interesting R. A. Heinlein wrote "Podkayne of Mars" before even the Apollo program- and all habitable spaces on Mars would be underground.
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No air. No water. No food. And…space. 😂
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Imagine the social dynamics on a Mars outpost... limited resources. Survival focussed. Limited contact to any guiding authority on Earth. I genuinely wonder how it would work.
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You should interview Issac Arthur futurist youtuber,
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I don't see Mars as viable until we get better at space travel. When we do get better at space travel - Mars would be a great stop for the rest of the solar system, and this is where Mars could shine. But honestly with our current tech we should focus on a moon base and getting past basic issues.
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Hes not colonizing mars. hes builing the railroad to the west.
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Another scintillating conversation. Thanks Dr. K Glad you patched it up with Mr. M. 🙏🏼🐈⬛
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A city on the moon makes so much more sense to me.
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Out of this world conversation by Dr. K and guest Zach Weinersmith. Felt like I was there.
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Anardicka is such sloppy pronunciation. Ant-Arctica!
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Thank goodness Elon Musk doesnt listen to self appointed experts.
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Really intriguing subject and great interview of Zach. I hope you do more interviews of writers, artists, explorers, and scientists, Brian !
