Logistical Content Concerning the Presentation
The TED talk, “Your kids might live on Mars. Here’s how they’ll survive,” is an essential narration that can inform concern groups on certain decision-making practices. By understanding the ethos, pathos, and logos, I gained confidence and noticed how the narrator offers reliable information throughout his talk show. Stephen Petraneck is a renowned award-winning science writer. He also authorizes a popular book, “How We’ll Live on Mars.” Petraneck presents a compelling case to his audience through his thought-provoking TED talk show, discussing Mars’s colonization in the next few decades. He gives us insights on what humans could do to ensure life on Mars is sustainable. For instance, humans need to construct habitats, establish a self-sustaining ecosystem, and utilize local resources. Petraneck also discusses some of the challenges attributed to living on Mars, which are manageable. He also explains the advantages and various vital opportunities in supporting humanity.
Rhetorical Elements of the Presentation
Ethos
Academic Qualification
This is an overview that involves understanding who the author is. Here, one could evaluate the institution and credibility of the author’s presentation. However, the details could be reviewed in the context of the talk. Petraneck establishes his credibility and authority through his broad experience as a science writer. He is also known for his deep research on human colonization of Mars. Like any other qualified speaker, this lends her authority and academic expertise to the abovementioned subject matter, indicating that he is competent to discuss the topic above.
The book’s author, “How We’ll Live on Mars,” lays a basis for his talk show. He also has significant years of research experience and conducts investigations on the problems and opportunities of building a sustainable environment for humanity on the Red Planet. Although he is not affiliated with any precise scientific institution or space agency, Petraneck’s credibility is deeply rooted in his capability to synthesize information from diverse sources. It offers a mind-blowing narrative that explains the imagination and scientific curiosity of the side of the audience.
Caring and Trustworthy Demeanour
His passion for studying science boosts Petraneck’s ethos as he speaks warmly and compassionately about prioritizing human well-being and sustainability. He quickly passes complex and vital information to his audience and is committed to presenting thorough research and thought-provoking insight into the subject matter. He is confident that many people will soon visit and live on Mars. He guarantees that our children might be the first to establish their homes there (00:00:15). He is aware that life on Earth could be over soon, given that the challenges attributed to human activities that fuel things like global warming or climate change.
Problems that have grown beyond human control. Since no one will save us from our mess, Petraneck sees exploration of the possibility of life on Mars as the most effective approach to prevent human extinction. As such, we could collectively halt the challenges posed by humans on Earth because if we do nothing, there is almost no chance of surviving this. In this case, Petraneck shows that he cares about humanity and trusts the process or approaches the scientist are exploring based on their mission.
Confidence
From the first word to the last, we learn that Petraneck speaks confidently and clearly, showing that he is an expert in this scientific field. From the video, we know that he presents the ideas assertively and seems familiar with the scientific notions or theories that explain the possibility of colonization of Mars. We can also note that the narrator constantly employs non-verbal cues. Such methods of communication are essential in TED talks because they ensure that the audience follows through and remains attentive when collecting information delivered by Petraneck based on the subject matter. At some point, Petraneck makes the audience laugh. This ensures that the audience is listening and boosts Petraneck’s confidence, ensuring he achieves the primary goal at the end of the day. He also maintains face-to-face communication with his audience, which is crucial to ensuring the audience is listening.
Reference
Petraneck touches on various scientific concepts or ideas from published books or other credible sources to support his claims. For instance, he explains that in the past twelve years, which the audience could refer to as their wish, he presented a TED talk discussing ten ways Earth could be unsustainable. He also argues that two million years ago, the evolution of man was experienced in Africa and extended to other parts of the world (Petraneck, 2015, 00:01:15). Such references further support him as a published expert and thought leader in rethinking the survival of humanity. Lastly, he references John F. Kennedy’s words by explaining that the latter emphasized and called upon society to rethink or dream big (Petraneck, 2015, 00:01:46). The information obtained by reviewing such sources is critical in supporting the author’s claims.
Visual Aids
Petraneck uses several graphics or visuals to allow the audience to develop more insights regarding the subject matter. For example, he provides a visual representation on the screen behind him, which shows a round and orange shape depicting the size and component of Mars (Petraneck, 2015, 00:00:34). Another crucial visual representation is the image of Saturn V rocket shown on the screen (Petraneck, 2015, 00:04:46). In the middle of talk show, Petraneck presents a visual obtained from a photograph from orbiters which shows a crater with a sheet of water ice. Lastly, Petraneck employs visual representation to explain Elon Musk’s optimism towards this common goal. From the screen, the audience can observe a picture of Elon Musk and his quoted words, which state, “The reason SpaceX was created was to accelerate the development of rocket technology, all for the goal of establishing a self-sustaining, permanent base on Mars” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:06:06). In this case, the audience can point out how the author employs visual presentations to explain more about the features and other related aspects of Mars. This shows a command of the subject and can be considered an approach to boosting credibility through validation.
Pathos (Emotional Appeal)
Storytelling and Human Perspective
Petraneck began by connecting emotionally with his audience by directing them to think of life on Mars. For instance, he starts by saying, “Strap yourselves in; we’re going to Mars” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:00:01). In this case, we learn how Petraneck conveys his message by creating a rapport or opening note to bring the imagination and ideas as one. This excellent introductory sentence is essential in helping the audience expect that everything will revolve around Mars. By founding his talk on collective challenges, Petraneck fosters an emotional echo with the audience.
Passion and Urgency
Petraneck presents a significant desire and earnestness to colonize Mars in this talk show. His animated and vibrant style represents his devotion to fueling the exploration of the new universe. This urge that concerns his moral ideas stirs an emotional hint that his words are crucial to understanding the real-world scenario.
Human-Centric Framing
Petraneck bases his claim on the human-centric mirror that gives us diverse insights on ensuring the sustenance of humanity on the new planet. Through his analysis, the narrator creates ethical emotions well connected to our shared hopes and aspirations of success in our primary mission. This emotional connection facilitates reasoning of the subject rather than just dry facts.
Logos
Data and Evidence
This section needs a thorough literature review to support the author’s arguments. Petraneck uses logical reasoning to explain the desire for humans to move from their current setting, the Earth, and relocate to a planet with abundant space and resources that could sustain humanity. In other words, Petraneck supports logical arguments by drawing upon the significance of scientific literature and various insights provided by experts within the field of study. From the video, we can learn how some important sources and knowledge domains help provide deep insights and credibility to this show. The narrator explains such sources as follows:
NASA’s Mars Exploration Program: In his work, Petraneck supports his claims by referencing current efforts by NASA to conduct exploration and research on the Martian environment. Some missions that could be explored include the Curiosity rover and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Such missions are essential in providing significant data and views on certain aspects, including geological and atmospheric elements, and the possibility of ensuring humanity on Mars.
Planetary Science and Astrobiology: The narrator could have consulted with various experts and literature to evaluate the chances of having a sustainable life on Mars and what is needed to create such an environment.
Space Technology Engineering: The narrator explains how different technologies and engineering solutions are essential in enabling the creation of human settlements on the abovementioned planet. For instance, people can utilize in-situ resources and develop sustainable life support systems. Petraneck could have drawn his study from literature and research in various reliable fields, including life support systems supporting long-lasting space missions.
Psychological and sociological studies: The narrator applies some of the psychological and sociological aspects known to explain the possibility of life on Mars. For instance, he draws information from concepts like isolation, confinement, and adaption to changes in the surroundings. Similarly, he draws literature from diverse fields like space psychology and social modifications in isolated environments to inform his views on this study.
Ethical and philosophical considerations: Through his talk, we also learn the broader implications and possible advantages of human colonization of Mars, explained by Petranek, obtained by conducting exploration on the diverse aspects of space exploration and extension into the cosmos. The information drawn from these knowledge domains presents a deep and logically sound argument that explains the feasibility and significance of creating a human presence on Mars.
Beneficiaries from the Ted Talk
Several people will likely benefit from Petranek’s work, including specific research communities trying to evaluate the possibility of life in such a new world. One of the groups is planetary science and astrobiology researchers. They usually work on understanding where planets originated from, how they evolved, and the possibility of life in them. Planetary sciences generally analyze how celestial bodies in the solar system play out, including the features of planetary bodies. Through this narration, the abovementioned group could develop various theories regarding the evolution of the planets, including Mars, and their significance to humanity. On the other hand, astrobiologists often study the possibility and distribution of life in the universe by evaluating the conditions and procedures that facilitated life on Earth. They also conduct research studies to determine the limits of life and seek biosignatures that can be used to assess the possibility of life on Mars.
Space technology and engineering communities can design, build, and operate various components and infrastructure needed to explore and utilize available resources for the project. Aerospace engineering could employ this information when conducting activities like designing spacecraft and aircraft, among other essential activities. Electrical and computer engineers can also apply such information collaboratively to enhance their innovation in developing various control systems for spacecraft to ensure they reach the final destination without any dangers, boosting the chances of exploring Mars. Lastly, robotics and automation engineers working within this framework could create manipulators and rovers to explore the possibility of life on Mars. Therefore, Petranek’s scientific exploration could help ensure that the mission is made possible and that the outcome is pleasing.
Psychological and sociological research communities are also well-positioned to use this information as they concentrate on studying human behavior in isolated and extreme environments. According to Petranek (2015), “Not just a few astronauts—thousands of people are going to colonize Mars” (00:00:08). In this case, we can learn that he is confident based on scientific data and research explaining the probability of life on Mars that soon the next generation if not our children will visit and leave on Mars without any doubt. Various departments, programs, and courses offered on campus could also use this information to conduct more research, including the benefits and dangers such activities pose to humans and the Earth and Mars environments. Similarly, various findings can reduce the chances of survival in the new universe and, if possible, help the world restore the Earth’s components as our mother nature.
Government and business organizations like NASA and ESA, among other communities, could use this information to make possible changes to ensure this move is successful. According to Petraneck (2015), people should note that governments and robots are now not in control of the mission to explore this possibility, given that private companies have now entered the race to speed up the process of venturing into this move. They could also consider ways of improving the efficiency and speed of the spacecraft to reduce the time, which Petraneck states could take at least eight months to reach land on Mars. Such approaches could increase the speed of exploration on Mars. In other words, Petranek’s speech is critical in inspiring and informing different audiences. The message resonates well with people who have the urge and passion or the desire to explore the final frontier and push the limits of goals, which in our case is the colonization of Mars.
Rhetorical Questioning
Petraneck poses thought-provoking questions in his speech. For example, at the beginning of the video, he provides one rhetorical question by stating, “How soon will the first humans land here?” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:05:24). Here, we have no answer as to how long this will take, meaning that it there is no time frame given the dangers associated with this exploration could pose on humanity. The narrator also presents another rhetorical question: “Why the heck should we do this?” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:00:34). We all know the general reason for exploring Mars is to have a better or sustainable life in this new world. However, this question has no specific answer and can be categorized under rhetoric.
Towards the middle of the talk show, Petraneck again asks another question in which he states, “Still … you’ve got to ask yourself, can this guy do this by 2050 or 2027?” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:06:28). This is comparative to the first question stated above, indicating that the world is not aware when such moves will take place. Other rhetorical questions include “Where was this ten years ago….and where was that?” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:06:51). Similarly, he does not expect an answer from them by questioning the audience “Can we live there?” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:07:39). Moreover, Petraneck asks “but what would you do there?…How would you live?” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:15:41). Lastly, the narrator concludes by asking a rhetorical question by stating that “what are they going to think when we form a colony on Mars?” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:16:37). Such rhetorical questions are essential in making the audience critically re-evaluate their assumptions.
Broad Synthesis of Speaker’s Words
Petranek’s study on the colonization of Mars, as depicted in his talk show, blends well with the broader narrative of human exploration and our mutual desire to increase our horizons. While the precisions of his notion may be entrenched in contemporary scientific and technological changes, the main message surpasses the limits of any single discipline. At its peak, Petranek’s study addresses the critical human desire to investigate the possibility of life in the unknown universe, to push the limits of what is possible, and to establish a better future for humanity. This instinct has been a driving force in our history, from the first cohort of migrations and voyages of discovery to the creation of advanced technologies and scientific successes.
His vision on the subject matter is depicted as an extension of this legacy. This testament explains the unending spirit of humanity’s exploration and our relentless quest for knowledge and insights. Since the past generations have successfully ventured into uncharted territories and overcome seemingly challenging hurdles, Petranek’s study challenges humanity to nurture the next frontier, as stated earlier. In addition, this talk incorporates philosophical and existential questions that are said to describe human existence and space in the cosmos. By giving us diverse insights needed for the creation of an autonomous human presence in the new universe, Petraneck challenges us to inject collaborative effort and venture into an exploration of the chances for humanity to become a multi-planet species, thereby extending our horizons beyond the boundaries of our mother nature, the Earth. This approach will likely secure or ensure humanity’s long-lasting survival and evolution.
Characteristics of Mars
Surface Area
In comparison, Mars is almost half the size of Earth. Despite its size, the surface area of the land of the former is equal to that of the latter since the Earth is primarily covered by water. (Petraneck, 2015, 00:02:37).
The Atmosphere
Mars also has minimal atmosphere compared to the Earth, with the narrator arguing that it is one hundred times thinner than that of the latter planet (Petraneck, 2015, 00:02:46). The challenge that scientists work on consistently is the fact that Mars is unbreathable. Surviving on a planet with 96% carbon dioxide is almost impossible.
Temperatures
Another feature of this new world is that the temperature is very low. Scientists believe that the mean temperature is -81 degrees Celsius. Therefore, this temperature is so cold that it cannot support life (Petraneck, 2015, 00:02:56).
Time
The good thing is that a day on Earth is almost equal to that of Mars, with the latter having only more than 39 minutes to separate the period between the two planets. This explains why the narrator states, “Seasons and years on Mars are twice as long as they are on Mars” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:03:04).
Gravity
Mars is known to have lesser gravity than our home planet. In this case, it is easier to jump over a car rather than walk around or strap on some wings and fly (Petraneck, 2015, 00:03:15).
Distance from the Moon
Another challenging issue that makes it difficult to explore this red planet is that Mars is “a thousand times farther away from us than our own moon” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:03:36). Apollo astronauts landed on the moon after taking three days to arrive there. Yet, it is 250 thousand miles away from the Earth. In contrast, Mars is 250 million miles away, meaning that it could take at least eight months or 240 days to land on Mars (00:03:54). For us to achieve this, the speaker argues that we must prepare to launch with precision of time, which means that it could be done every two years when the alignment of Mars and Earth is at the point is expected to be to minimize the time needed for the rocket to travel between the two planets (Petraneck, 2015, 00:04:01).
He also explains that the track record of landing on Mars could be more pleasing based on the data provided by astronauts. The US, Russia, Japan, Europe, China, and India are the only countries known to launch 44 rockets from Earth to Mars successfully. Only a third of this number is established to achieve this mission (Petraneck, 2015, 00:04:22). Similarly, there is no big rocket that has been built to land on that planet, with Saturn V depicted to be the only bigger one that could take us to Mars. According to the speaker, the giant rocket currently is half of what we need to get us to Mars (Petraneck, 2015, 00:05:10). It is the one that helped humans explore the moon (Petraneck, 2015, 00:04:54). The last of its kind was used in 1973 by astronauts in launching the Skylab space station. Afterward, the mission of exploring Mars came to a temporary halt, and scientists shifted their focus to explore the new move known to us as the shuttle.
From these features, we can observe that Mars is not near what our home planet offers, so we must do a lot to ensure that we live in this new universe. According to the speaker, Mars is the most livable planet other than Earth in our entire solar system, and it could support humanity (Petraneck, 2015, 00:03:27).
Reasons for Visiting Mars
Petraneck (2015) explains that exploring the possibility of life on Mars is a move that will protect humanity from extinction following the notion of the chances of the world ending (00:00:37). One giant asteroid is likely to hit the Earth. Nothing will survive When that happens, leading to humanity’s extinction. To survive such consequences, Petraneck urges us to reconsider our activities and nurture new motives to extend beyond Earth. He challenges humans to consider what it means if all we have attained after the revolution ends suddenly.This tremendous vision is reasonable and aligns with the principles of astrobiology and the pursuit of life in the new universe. It may also include ethical considerations surrounding humans’ responsibility as protectors of our world and possible ambassadors to other planets. His work forces us to think beyond the issues experienced now and nurture the broader implications of our activities for the current generation and the next generation.
Petraneck also explains that there is another reason for going to Mars. He explains that since it is in our DNA, we can explore almost everything, including colonizing Mars. Since it is inside us, exploring Mars is possible only because we need to dig deeper to understand this possibility. The exploration started in the past two million years when humans evolved from Africa and extended to other parts of the world. No one could think that such moves could enable humans to reach into the wilderness, which was supposed to be impossible during such a time.
He maintains that significant advancements that can be noted in civilization and technology started as a result of exploration (Petraneck, 2015, 00:01:25). For instance, he explains that although this move is ideal, it could take a lot of money and resources to build a thriving colony on Mars. However, he contradicts himself by stating that because of the associated costs of exploring the possibility of life, we can reverse our actions and take better care of Mother Nature. He concludes by stating that there is no guarantee that we protect the new world since our actions have destroyed Earth. Petraneck explains that John F. Kennedy argued that humans can do anything, including “putting humans on the moon” (Petraneck, 2015, 00:01:47). This move could excite the whole generation to dream big. Therefore, instead of destroying our home planet and leaving it to rebuild itself or become extinct, we could channel the same energy we use to explore new life on Mars to safeguard our home planet from possible consequences.
Approximated time of Arriving on Mars
Getting to Mars is an impossible mission, as many can argue, but nothing is impossible. For instance, if someone had asserted in the 18th century that people could interact through the internet or media, no one would believe it. The same can be argued by scientists who go beyond limits to prove society wrong. Arriving on Mars by 2050 could be the most significant achievement. NASA has set its time limit that this could happen by 2040, while Petraneck believes that we can arrive in Mars orbit by 2035 (Petraneck, 2015, 00:06:05). He is very confident that this could happen sooner rather than later, given the speed and advancements experienced in technological fields.
As if this is not enough, he even claims that there is a possibility of arriving on Mars in 2027. This is because Elon Musk, known for his outrageous efforts in the technological field as the CEO of Tesla and Space X, argues that there is a possibility of landing on Mars by 2025 (Petraneck, 2015, 00:03:27). Petraneck admits that Elon Musk is more optimistic compared to him. The speaker is more confident about Elon Musk because the latter has proved resourceful regarding technological advancements. Petraneck (2015) corroborates that in 2005, no one, including his close friends and people in the automobile industry, believed that a decent electric car could be made within the first fifty years (00:07:08). Elon through his Tesla automobile pro,ved beyond reasonable doubt that the possibility of colonizing Mars after introducing Tesla cars in less than a decade.
Resources Needed to Support Life on Mars
To survive on Earth, we need water, food, clothing, and shelter, whereas Mars needs us to transport all these, plus abundant oxygen. Carrying water from Earth is one of the solutions for sustainable life. However, Petraneck (2015) argues that this move is almost impossible by stating that “it’s far too heavy for us to carry water from the Earth to Mars to live” (00:08:16). Therefore, we must find sources of water in the new world although the entire planet is perceived to be a desert. This is not true because soil on Mars is more than 60% percent made of water, as established by obiters (00:08:34). Various craters could also be water sources on Mars because they contain a sheet of water ice. Underground water and glaciers can support life on Mars but require significant human labor to exploit. Similarly, a low-tech dehumidifier called wavar could exploit water from the 100 percent humid atmosphere, enough to sustain life on Mars.
The moxie machine developed by Michael Hecht is an essential technological tool that could help us breathe by sucking the Martian atmosphere to provide oxygen (Petraneck, 2015, 00:10:15). CO2 is also made up of 78 percent oxygen, making it possible to extract oxygen from it. Likewise, it is only likely to grow up to 15 to 20 percent of the food on Mars once we have surface running water (Petraneck, 2015, 00:10:57). Therefore, most food will be obtained from Earth in dried form. For shelter, we are likely to employ inflatable, pressurized buildings and landers during the day to keep us away from high radiation from solar and cosmic rays.
We could also build shelters underground in caves or lava tubes or use materials like incorporating polymer plastic inside bricks and “shove them in a microwave oven” to create thick walls (Petraneck, 2015, 00:11:40). For clothing, a sleek suit as suggested by Dava Newman could prevent the impact of radiation and keep us warm. With all these sorted, we are now confident about living on Earth. The only problem is now dealing with temperature changes, which range from a high of 70 degrees Celsius during the day to a low of -100 degrees Celsius during the night in the summer.
In conclusion, Petraneck’s story presents the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the convergence of different fields of knowledge. To achieve the main goal, Petraneck explains that people need to work with scientists and experts from several other disciplines to synthesize knowledge and break down traditional silos to explore the new world. Some of the notable information recognized by his audience includes his confidence in explaining the possibility and what is needed to support life on Mars. As a result, people can learn about the power of human ingenuity and the chances of tackling multifaceted issues related to our chances of having a new world. Petranek is among the few who provide deep insights on what is needed to ensure our pursuit of a whole new world is thriving. Through his study, we can learn how he cries for humanity to foster the innovative spirit of getting out of their comfort zone boundaries of what is possible and to begin a journey that transcends the bounds of our existence. It is a request to take action that aligns with various disciplines and generations that will remind us of our collective humanity and our responsibility to shape a future that is both sustainable and very inspiring.
Reference
Petraneck, S. (2015, March). Your kids might live on Mars. Here’s how they’ll survive. Retrieved March 30, 2024, from https://www.ted.com/talks/stephen_petranek_your_kids_might_live_on_mars_here_s_how_they_ll_survive
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