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digger1
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15 Dec 2009, 11:57 pm

do you think scientists could make algae capable of breathing in whatever the atmosphere that shrouds Venus and belch out oxygen?



Stinkypuppy
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16 Dec 2009, 12:09 am

By algae I'm assuming you mean the eukaryotic algae. Bacteria/prokaryotes are a lot more versatile. There'd be a much better chance of finding an extremophile bacterial species that can withstand the over 400 degrees C temperature and lack of water.


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16 Dec 2009, 12:12 am

Basically since algae has chlorophyll, it could use the CO2 in Venus's atmosphere to make oxygen, but its too hot. Venus is a runaway greenhouse effect planet.


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16 Dec 2009, 8:01 am

Yes, it worked on Earth.

I expect some Hydrocarbons, so the makings are there for water and oxygen, but I would expect a few million years would be needed.



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20 Dec 2009, 1:57 am

It's possible if the research was put into it, but if it's terraforming you're after, it'd take forever.