“Do you ever wonder if–well, if there are people living on the third planet?’
“The third planet is incapable of supporting life,’ stated the husband patiently. ‘Our scientists have said there’s far too much oxygen in their atmosphere.”
Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles.
4 thoughts on “The Third Planet”
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Oddly enough the oxygen content in the atmosphere goes up and down over time and the periods where it is suitable for humans but a tiny fraction of the Earth’s history. So depending on the era, the martian could be right. In the carboniferous it hit between 40-50% and there were eagle sized dragonflies and alligator sized millipedes. Earlier (~700M years ago) it looks to have gone from 12% to 0.3% in a a few tens of millions of years).
After the age of dinosaurs it went down again.
21% is a rarity.
Some of that data is new so its unclear if Bradbury had that in mind.
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“During the **Jurassic period**, which spanned approximately **140 to 250 million years ago**, the **atmospheric oxygen levels** fluctuated significantly. Here are some fascinating insights:
1. **Triassic and Early Jurassic**:
– Oxygen levels ranged between **12% and 13%**¹.
– Humans could still breathe in this environment, although at **10% to 14%**, mental impairment due to oxygen deficiency would occur ¹.
2. **Jurassic-Cretaceous Boundary** (around **140 million years ago**):
– Oxygen levels gradually dropped to **between 10% and 11%** over the next **40 million years**¹.
3. **End of the Cretaceous** (when dinosaurs went extinct, **65 million years ago**):
– Atmospheric oxygen levels **spiked up to 18%**¹.
4. **Post-Cretaceous** (between **40 and 65 million years ago**):
– Oxygen levels fluctuated wildly between **12% and 20%**.
– Around **40 million years ago**, atmospheric oxygen levels stabilized at **21%**¹.
In summary, the Jurassic period witnessed varying oxygen levels, impacting the flourishing of ancient life forms, including dinosaurs.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/31/2024
I have tripled (at least) my knowledge about the Martian atmosphere by reading your comment. I thank you and your best friend, Bing, for providing this enlightenment, F.
HA!
Bing clearly has not read:
Beyond Plate Tectonics
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0992565219
Maxlow was a student of Carey:
Planet Earth: A Question Of Expansion (1982)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Othb0xsvZb4
Basically, the Earth started out half the size of the Moon, at one 12th gravity. That’s how you have centipedes as long as a bus and dragonflies with a four foot wingspan.
– Dinosaurs could not exist on a one gravity Earth.
To avoid TPV limit on links, here is a fun video showing the concept.
– Just assemble the link to watch the video. HA!
Expanding Earth Theory
youtube( . )com/watch?v=vqF-vvi5uUA
Watch how Australia nestles up between Asia and North America.
Fun stuff.
BTW, Today is April Fools, my High Holy Day.
But I digress.
You got me good.
Had me scared.
At first I thought you were talking about Theia.
Normally I ignore everything on April 1st and Dec 28th but I thought this place would be safe. :p