- ABLanky15
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- Noble Heroic Member
Posted by: Recon Number 54
Posted by: Sgt monkey41
Posted by: Recon Number 54
An interesting question is;
If we do find evidence of not just fossilized, but actual life (even microbial) on Mars... should/would we go ahead with plans to terraform, visit or otherwise colonize it?
Would we consider "leaving it alone to find its own way" if we discover it? Or, do we colonize and quite likely wipe out the flora/fauna of another world?
If the Gaia hypothesis is correct. The simple act of stepping on the planet could cause accidental terraforming.
Correct, panspermia could have occurred if any of our probes (from Viking on) were not properly sterilized.
But I wonder what would we do "if" current missions were to find something that is confirmed to be non-terran in origin or relation (something that is unlike any/all life on Earth that is VERY similar in all of its DNA structure).
Would we take a high minded and ethical approach that "we have no right to interfere in the destiny of such life, even if it stands little to no chance of evolving into a multi-cellular state?" Or do we even waste time "worrying about ET-bugs where there's land and resources at stake"?
I agree that if it is found, and we continue to visit, we're likely to introduce our own bugs and impact that planet in unforseeable ways. But perhaps that is how things get started? I don't know.
But if we are "so higher than bacteria" on another world that we feel empowered to "take it, since there is no one with a voice we can hear/understand to protest", what would we think of our world being visited by beings who were capable (and accurate) in seeing themselves as "far above us" as we consider ourselves "above bacteria"?
Would such beings have any pause over disregarding us and our "right to exist and evolve"? Would they even care to consider asking us what we think? Could they even contemplate or understand that we'd like to think that we're intelligent?
With the current government state of mind, money is everything.
"We have colonised Mars" is more likely to bring in more cash and keep them in office longer than "We're leaving Mars to evolve".
I don't think it'd even been properly considered by the government. Of course we'd have all the environmental groups up in arms, but everything is done about profit now, rather than the good of mankind etc.