Nanoparticles could warm Mars by 50°Fahrenheit, make planet habitable

Transforming Mars into an Earth-like world has been a long-held space goal. Visionaries like Carl Sagan pondered ways to make the Red Planet habitable.

From the wildly imaginative concept of turning a Martian moon into a sun to the practical approach of constructing heat-retaining structures, the spectrum of ideas has been vast.

Researchers from the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Central Florida have now proposed a new approach to terraforming Mars.

They propose that if engineered dust particles are dispersed into the Martian atmosphere, the temperatures may soar over 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). This new method could be the first step in making Mars habitable for microbial life.

Interestingly, the team highlights that their new method is “5,000 times more efficient than previous schemes to globally warm Mars.”

“This suggests that the barrier to warming Mars to allow liquid water is not as high as previously thought,” said Edwin Kite, an associate professor of geophysical sciences at the University of Chicago.

Engineered dust particles

Transforming Mars into a habitable world requires overcoming several challenges, including intense UV radiation and salty soil. And, most critically, the planet’s frigid surface temperatures, which average around -80 degrees Fahrenheit.

One potential technique for warming Mars is to create a greenhouse effect by releasing gases or chemicals that can trap and hold solar heat. This would require plenty of material to be taken from the Earth.

But this new strategy solves this issue. It leverages Mars’ existing resources, making it a more practical option for increasing its temperatures.

The team has proposed using iron- and aluminum-rich Martian dust. The natural Martian dust has a cooling effect, but engineered particles could potentially trap heat.

To test this idea, the researchers generated small particles in the lab. The researchers created glitter-sized particles fashioned like short rods.

The feasibility suggests that these particles could be used to capture escaping heat and direct sunlight toward Mars’ surface, thereby accelerating its natural warming process.

“How light interacts with sub-wavelength objects is fascinating. Importantly, engineering nanoparticles can lead to optical effects that far exceed what is conventionally expected from such small particles,” said Samaneh Ansari, the lead author.

Continuous release of particles important

Millions of tons of particles would be necessary to heat up the planet.

“But that’s five thousand times less than you would need with previous proposals to globally warm Mars. This significantly increases the feasibility of the project,” added Kite.

They postulate that releasing nanoparticles continuously at a rate of 30 liters per second could warm Mars by over 50 degrees Fahrenheit within months. If particle emissions stopped, the warming would begin to reverse in a matter of years.

The researchers have said that the study only looked into ways to generate environmental conditions conducive to microbial life and plant growth, rather than a human-breathable environment.

“This research opens new avenues for exploration and potentially brings us one step closer to the long-held dream of establishing a sustainable human presence on Mars,” said Kite in the press release.

They add that there’s much to learn about this process. For instance, scientists don’t fully understand how quickly the engineered dust will leave the Martian atmosphere, especially as the planet warms and its water cycle becomes more active.

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.