Nuke Mars is a concept proposed by
Elon Musk to make
Marshabitable for humans by detonating
nuclear weapons over its polar ice caps. The idea is that the explosions would vaporize the
ice caps, releasing
carbon dioxide and water vapor into the atmosphere, which are both
greenhouse gases that would warm the planet. A thicker atmosphere would then trap heat from the
Sun, which could increase the planet's temperature to
Earth-like levels. The formation of liquid water could be very favorable for oxygen-producing plants, and thus, human survival.[1][2][3][4][5]
Artist's conception of the process of terraforming Mars as discussed in some works of science fiction
Scientific criticism
Studies suggest that even if all the CO2 trapped in Mars'
polar ice and
regolith were released, it wouldn't be enough to provide significant
greenhouse warming to turn Mars into an Earth-like planet.[6][7]