Bill Nye: We Are Not Going To Live on Mars, Let Alone Turn It Into Earth

pgmrdlm writes: Bill Nye says the idea of Mars colonization and terraforming -- making a planet more Earth-like by modifying its atmosphere -- is science fiction. 'This whole idea of terraforming Mars, as respectful as I can be, are you guys high?' Nye said in an interview with USA TODAY. 'We can't even take care of this planet where we live, and we're perfectly suited for it, let alone another planet.' As for living on Mars permanently: Sorry, Nye says that's not happening either. 'People disagree with me on this, and the reason they disagree is because they're wrong,' he quipped. The famous science educator and CEO of The Planetary Society appears on National Geographic Channel's series 'MARS.' While the series explores human beings living on the Red Planet and even mining it, that doesn't mean Nye buys into the idea. For starters, he points to Antarctica, where scientists are stationed even during the harsh winter months but no one lives permanently.

'Nobody goes to Antarctica to raise a family. You don't go there and build a park, there's just no such thing. Nobody's gonna go settle on Mars to raise a family and have generations of Martians,' Nye said. 'It's not reasonable because it's so cold. And there is hardly any water. There's absolutely no food, and the big thing, I just remind these guys, there's nothing to breathe.' Plus living in a dome, then putting on a spacesuit to go outside will get tiring -- fast. 'When you leave your dome, you're gonna put on another dome, and I think that will get old pretty quick,' he said. 'Especially the smell in the spacesuit 00 all the Febreze you can pack, I think it will really help you up there.'

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