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If we don't have a communism, we will need some massive controls anyways. After all, on a small little Mars colony, where there is only one store, prices will be deadly. Democracy works well with many millions of people. Thus many thousands supply most goods. On a starting colony, we need something to maintain order at least until the colony grows very large and can support many producers and suppliers. Also, what do we do about the unemployed people, they still take away valuable air and yet contribute nothing to the empire..errrr..I mean colony.
In the spirit of taking over other creatures before they take us over, I would ask how strong their military is. Then if they reply that they are weak (would they even fall for it?), we factor in the evolution of science and cross our fingers that they will be weaker when our invasion fleet arrives. If they are stronger, then we smile nicely and try to be friends with them (until we steal their technology of course).
Why not feed everybody off a single type of protein-rich fungus? Fungus is easy to grow and (perhaps with vitamins added) could supply a whole colony with food. As for taste, with the right flavor addatives we can make anything taste like anything:chicken fungus, beef fungus, carrot fungus. To protect this fungus from dangers (infections, accidents), it should be grow completely automated and in many different vats throughout the colony.
What would happen if it did melt? Surely there are areas on Mars that has stable building ground.
Soy milk is ok. As true taste, perhaps it would be better for us Earth people to hold onto that. It would be a profit making luxury good. As for keeping people sane, we could simply install cable TV and give them a bunch of computer games. In time they will forget the outside world. After all, many people today live in cities of metal and cement. I know people who never even saw a farm! I guess some ornamental plants could be grown, but fungus could still be the main food source.
I find it amazing how ants work to build their nest. Perhaps something of the like could be used to build a massive network or deep mines on another planet. The shear amount of dirt as a wall will protect anyone from most dangerous "falling stones."
Also we could put in those doors that they have on ships. If a compartment leaks after being hit, pressure causes the door to slam shut thus saving the rest of the colony. People themselves should naturally live only in the deepest chambers. Bad luck for anyone who happens to be in the compartment, but it will minimize any further damage.
I wonder if this fungus could be adapted to supply all the needs of a person. Who needs plants anyways? While gene research with takes its time, we could use the fungus for all colonies.
Taste is relative. We could always add something for flavor. For example, chicken flavor, beef flavor, orange flavor.
Why can't we use something cheap and semi-strong? I suggest styrofoam. It keeps heat off pretty well and after all, how good do we need to insolate the Mars colony? We don't want it to overheat and it will be full of heat emitting people and heat emitting machines. The very light-bulb in my room burns my hand if I touch it after it was on. In a closed environment were no heat can get out, it will roast me.
vats of water? im not sure if the ability to grow food in water is perfected yet. I've always wondered if there are any negative aspects to it.
vats of water? im not sure if the ability to grow food in water is perfected yet. I've always wondered if there are any negative aspects to it.
Why can't the entire planting/harvesting system be automated with controlled lighting, carbon dioxide content, etc.? Then the process can be perfected in a close environment here on Earth and the whole thing could be shiped off to Mars or any other place.
holds water in, amazing! Perhaps it could also hold an entire environment in also? A sort of cheap, temporary dome. I wonder how much pressure it could hold without ripping.
Rather than using such devices to manipulate the soil to the needs of the plants, why can we not genetically engineer the plants to our needs. After all, on a closed environment, the plants do not need to waste energy on bark, protective membranes, or even store water for dry seasons. If the plants are already engineered for the environment, then we won't need nano-machines at all.