Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

smithsonianmag.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 150 posts

Re: Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

#11

Post by dguest »

acimim_ha wrote: post #4

> locations on the moon where conditions are ideal for the study of the early universe. Doesn't get me particularly excited personally. Scientists should be aware other people have different interests. I want a futurama lunapark. In the end, government is going to decide. After some war/conflicts. Just like on Earth.

I want a lunapark too.

Until then I'm just another stupid scientist. But I'm aware that other people have different interests. I think the people who are calling for areas to be preserved are aware too, which is why they are trying to start a dialogue.

Re: Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

#12

Post by erellsworth »

basisword wrote: post #2

While I understand their concerns, it seems a bit crazy to think you have any right to tell people what to do or not do on the moon.

Serious question: What is the difference between telling people what they can and can't do on the moon vs telling people what they can and can't do on vacant land here on earth? If I go out to some remote area in the United States and start building houses, I'll almost certainly get into legal trouble, especially if I don't have any permits and definitely if I don't own the land.

Who gets to own the moon? Is it just whoever has the resources to travel there and build stuff? Imagine if Space X decides to carve a portrait of Elon Musk into the face of the moon at a scale large enough it can be seen from the naked eye on earth. Would that be OK just because he had the money to do it?

Re: Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

#13

Post by ToucanLoucan »

erellsworth wrote: post #12
basisword wrote: post #2

While I understand their concerns, it seems a bit crazy to think you have any right to tell people what to do or not do on the moon.

Serious question: What is the difference between telling people what they can and can't do on the moon vs telling people what they can and can't do on vacant land here on earth? If I go out to some remote area in the United States and start building houses, I'll almost certainly get into legal trouble, especially if I don't have any permits and definitely if I don't own the land. Who gets to own the moon? Is it just…

I echo the sentiments of that famous tweet, that if I ever go outside one night and find an ad on the moon, I'm becoming a terrorist.

Re: Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

#15

Post by tw04 »

basisword wrote: post #2

While I understand their concerns, it seems a bit crazy to think you have any right to tell people what to do or not do on the moon.

>While I understand their concerns, it seems a bit crazy to think you have any right to tell people what to do or not do on the moon.

Have you stopped to think what happens to the earth if the moon were just outright gone? Because that's ultimately what the debate is about. If anything valuable is found there, you can be assured someone will strip mine it until every last piece of value is removed, and the non-valuable thing is left to float off into the universe, not their problem.

I think it's EVERYONE'S right to tell anyone trying to profit off of what is at the moon what they can and can't do.

Re: Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

#16

Post by d_burfoot »

There was a similar theme in Kim Stanley Robinson's book Red Mars - a lot of the initial crew of colonists actually wanted to preserve the planet in its pristine state.

I thought this was completely crazy. There are no ecosystems to protect, no endangered species, no green living things. Moving development from Earth into space should count as an overwhelming win for the environment.

Re: Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

#17

Post by Am4TIfIsER0ppos »

tw04 wrote: post #15
basisword wrote: post #2

While I understand their concerns, it seems a bit crazy to think you have any right to tell people what to do or not do on the moon.

>While I understand their concerns, it seems a bit crazy to think you have any right to tell people what to do or not do on the moon. Have you stopped to think what happens to the earth if the moon were just outright gone? Because that's ultimately what the debate is about. If anything valuable is found there, you can be assured someone will strip mine it until every last piece of value is removed, and the non-valuab…

If someone can mine the entire moon away I say let them. What a fantastical technical achievement that would be

Re: Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

#19

Post by nirav72 »

erellsworth wrote: post #12
basisword wrote: post #2

While I understand their concerns, it seems a bit crazy to think you have any right to tell people what to do or not do on the moon.

Serious question: What is the difference between telling people what they can and can't do on the moon vs telling people what they can and can't do on vacant land here on earth? If I go out to some remote area in the United States and start building houses, I'll almost certainly get into legal trouble, especially if I don't have any permits and definitely if I don't own the land. Who gets to own the moon? Is it just…

Probably because the moon doesn't have property lines and nation-state borders (For now). Vacant lots down here on earth are usually privately owned or by local or national governments.

Re: Why Scientists Are Calling for the Moon to Be Better Protected from Development

#20

Post by m3kw9 »

d_burfoot wrote: post #16

There was a similar theme in Kim Stanley Robinson's book Red Mars - a lot of the initial crew of colonists actually wanted to preserve the planet in its pristine state. I thought this was completely crazy. There are no ecosystems to protect, no endangered species, no green living things. Moving development from Earth into space should count as an overwhelming win for the environment.

Maybe the way there is no regulations, gonna look like dumping grounds everywhere except the developed areas
Post reply on HN