Astro-Ecology
Scientific study of the
interactions of biota with
space environments and resources. The results quantify
the immense potentials for life in the Solar System,
the galaxy, and the universe
Astro-Ethics
The ethics and motivation of human expansion in space. Life-centered astroethics suggest a human purpose to forever safeguard, propagate and expand life in the universe
Algae and asparagus growing on carbonaceous and Mars meteorites
Asparagus on carbonaceous meteorite
Algae on Mars meteorite
Life-centered ethics values the life of individuals, species and biosystems.
Biotic ethics values the basic patterns of organic gene/protein life.
Panbiotic ethics seeks to propagate and expand life in the universe, and to elevate life into a controlling force in Nature.
Astroecology addresses these
questions:
Astroethics addresses these questions:
Can space resources support life?
Recent experiments showed that microbes and plant cultures (asparagus, potato) can grow well carbonaceous and Martian meteorites. This suggests that asteroid and Martian soils are fertile.
We are part of the Life, and our purpose is one with all Life, survival and propagation. This identity defines the human purpose to propagate and expand life.
How much life can the Solar System support?
Analysis of nutrients in meteorites show that carbonaceous asteroids can support a hundred million trillion kilograms of biomass and human space populations of thousands of trillions.
Large populations in independent worlds will secure our survival and allow increasing biological and cultural advancement.
What are our human prospects in space?
The resources of space will allow immense human populations in our Solar System and beyond for innumerable eons; divergent advanced post-human species adapted to many various environments; and ever increasing cultural advancement.
Should we promote all life or only intelligent human life?
Biotic ethics suggests that we should promote all forms of our family of gene/protein life. Increasing biological diversity will help life to occupy many diverse world and diverse environments.
What is the future of life in the galaxy?
Life can survive about white dwarf stars for trillions of years, supporting astronomical amounts of time-integrated biomass.
Should we seed other solar systems with life?
Seeding new solar systems with life will start new branches of life. Some of them may develop into intelligent species who may expand life further in the galaxy.
How much life can the universe sustain?
If all mass was converted to living matter, and then used up slowly for energy to support life, the universe could contain an immense 1057 kg-years of time-integrated biomass for trillions of eons.
Is life in the universe finite?
Physics and cosmology suggest that matter will remain stable, and the universe will be habitable, for trillions of trillions of eons (>1e30 years) habitable. For better predictions we may need to observe nature for billions of future eons. A profound mastery of Nature may then allow extending life to infinity.
What is our cosmological future?
For now, we must secure long-term human survival. In our descendants life can continue for many eons. Over such astronomical time-spans our descendants may understand nature more deeply, and try to extend life indefinitely. In that future, our human existence can find a cosmic purpose.
Astroethics is discussed further at
and in "Seeding the Universe with Life", see below
Links and References
Further information e-mail: info@solis1.com
Websites:
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Astroethics, life-centered ethics and panbiotic space ethics:
www.astroethics.com
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Seeding other solar systems with life, and the Society for Life in Space (SOLIS)www.panspermia-society.com
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Link for young readers: Astroecology for young people
Book (popular science and research publication reprints):
Seeding the Universe with Life
- Securing Our Cosmological Future -
Michael N. Mautner, Ph. D.
Click on the book below to
link to www.amazon.com
Technical Paper on Astroecology
(Icarus,
Journal of the Division of Planetary Science, AAS):
Planetary bioresources and astroecology.
1. Plant and algal microcosm bioassays of
Martian and meteorite soils