Harvard University study showed that silica aerogels can make Mars habitable parts of

Mars is a very desolate place, now, Harvard University researchers have demonstrated that a thin layer of silica airgel surface can be heated and block ultraviolet radiation, visible light through while still. This may be enough to keep the water liquid, so plant photosynthesis in a given area. Although Mars was once a lush, humid world that can sustain life, but that is definitely not what we know today of the red planet. Modern Mars is a dry shell, where only water is still locked in the polar ice caps or underground in the depths of the lagoon. Thin atmosphere of oxygen means very little, very cold, and there is no protection against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Silica airgel material is one of the lightest ever, clear, is an excellent insulating material. All this means that, at least in theory, the Martian sky in a thin layer of silicon airgel can effectively form a small piece of ground below it. This will make the surface more heat, ultraviolet radiation reflection, and not block visible light. Researchers in the laboratory to reproduce the surface conditions of Mars, and placed a layer of silica airgel layer at the top, in order to observe its changes may lead to verify this idea. It is incredible that they find a very thin layer of silica airgel, only 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 inches) thick, will be sufficient to heat the ground surface below 50 ° C (90 ° F) . The researchers said that if the right places deployment on Mars, the planet\’s surface temperature may reach -10 ° C (14 ° F), or even higher. Then, the team used the Martian climate models tested this idea. This suggests that the silica airgel placed on the red planet over a cold area, keep the water liquid at the surface, and maintains throughout the year a few meters depth. And other plant life can survive in this shelter the next, you can get plenty of light for photosynthesis, while protecting them from UV damage.