We must extend life beyond this world, if we are to survive as a
species. Planet Earth has always had a high opinion of itself,
sometimes claiming to be the most advanced of its kind in the known
universe & as the only harbinger of intelligent life. It boasts of diverse
ecosystems ranging from the polar frigid wastes of Antarctica, to the
desert scorching heat of North Africa, but i guess that all changes
eventually with the advent of modern technologies. Earth has no
longer been regarded that grand position of the only habitable world
in this galaxy. It is no question, that in just our local stellar
neighborhood of 3.6parsecs, over 4 planets are suspected to have a
gravity that can bound an atmosphere of heavy bio-organic gases
that could eventually enhance bacterial or probably multicellular
evolution. One of these planets called ‘Teegarden b’ is regarded as the
most earth-like planet ever discovered, & good news is its just 12 light
years away. With an orbital period of 4.91 earth days compared with
earth’s 365 days. Meaning only 4 sunrises & sunsets occur in 1
“teegarden b year”. Severe alterations to mammalian circadian
rhythms would occur if we ever colonize this world. Surface
temperatures have been predicted to be around 0-50°c & maybe closer to
28°c. Although a majority of these worlds found remain at a
geosynchronous orbit & are thus tidally locked; causing one side
permanently scorched, & the other permanently frozen dark, just like
earth’s moon. At these extreme temperatures, one would expect to give
up hope of re-settling on them. But, there's a region we call the
terminator line, where it'll be possible for water to exist in its liquid
state, & perhaps on our arrival we could deploy our modular climate
satellites to speed up stratospheric circulation to warm up the frozen
side.
If we eventually achieve stability on this world, how certain is it that
territorial wars & conflicts wont arise, & that we won’t eventually
generate excess CO2 & ‘toxify’ the air like we did back on earth,
starting that cycle again.
In my opinion, I think this universe has resources on an infinite
scale, recycling all of it in endless collapses & expansions. Peace &
destruction are a dual part of nature; we can’t restrict life to just one
planet with the intention of preventing other worlds from being
ruined. There remain countless number of earth-like planets out there,
& we have a duty to go explore them. “Ruining other worlds” could be
more like a little cup out of an ocean that eventually dries up, then
refills again with or without any interference.