[neilep]

quote:Originally posted by another_someone

quote:Originally posted by neilep

quote:Originally posted by Solvay_1927

It would be nice if we could have an environmental forum.  There's definitely enough interest.

P.S. And how about a "food" forum too? (For all Neil's queries?) [][]

OOPS!!..I just posted another food related query !!...

well..they are sort of science based aren't they ? []

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

Strictly speaking, one of them was a linguistics (etymology) question.  After DoctorBeaver's earlier question, maybe we should be proposing an etymology forum (or more general linguistics forum).

As for food – cooking is chemistry, and what we consume is biochemistry.

You Pedant you !!....thank you for the clarity .[]

Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!

[VAlibrarian]

Sorry I am late replying- i have not been on the 'net this past week.
The danger of losing civility on this topic is real, I have seen weblog discussions on other sites dealing with politics degenerate into profanity/obscenity. However our participants seem to be fairly civil, and have a genuine interest in science.
I think it can work without separating political from scientific environmentalism- in fact, I think that we too often allow our personal beliefs to outweigh hard science when we contemplate the environment. In the Climate Change debate, for example, some people do not allow themselves to think the unthinkable.
Let the discussion begin!


chris wiegard

[tanian]

Environment, eh? Well here's a radical thought for you all. I've been busily reading all manner of topics about algae used to seed mars for life and how photosynthesis works etc. etc., but you're spot on mate, all these things may seem fascinating but whats the point in seeding a planet if we'll ultimately kill it off anyway? Here's a radical new thought- and one I hope that will cause further debate:

What would happen if we seeded the Oceans of the Earth with huge colonies of phytoplankton?

Would it reduce greenhouse gasses effectively? This has been cited as one of the major causes for the Earth becoming an oxygen rich envirionment in the first place.

And secondly, would it create the further problem of having too much o2 in the environment? What could be the implications of this other than the short term effect of heightened performance in o2 respiring species?

I think its exactly right that an environment specific forum, arranged in the correct way could help to identify these problems-  but a much larger issue, in my eyes at least, is that people are far too preoccupied with the grander things- lke space travel, lunar mining and relativity bending theories, than they are with the biggest issue of all- will it all come to nothing when my descendants can no longer stand on the planet earth and look at the summer skies?

I myself would rather not exist at all that never be able to feel the sun on my cheeks. This planet is, after all, the very reason we exist.