A new research study now says humans need an Earth-like ecosystem for deep-space living

A Cornell researcher has developed a new theory that may answer whether humans can survive in deep space. This theory is called the Pancosmorio theory. It focuses on the physical needs of humans living far from Earth, like gravity, oxygen, water, agriculture, and waste management.

A publication, “Pancosmorio (World Limit) Theory of the Sustainability of Human Migration and Settlement in Space,” was recently released. It was published in March of this year.

Morgan Irons, a doctoral student studying soil organic carbon persistence with Professor Johannes Lehmann, made an important observation. Humans must have a self-sustaining ecosystem like Earth to maintain technology, infrastructure, and society in space.

Morgan’s father and Executive Director at the Norfolk Institute, Lee Irons, believes that gravity is vital for Earth’s life. This is because it enables life to function optimally. Without these kinds of systems, the mission will fail.

The speaker emphasized the importance of gravity. It creates a pressure gradient essential for the autonomic functions of living things. Gravity can affect life forms. For example, astronauts experience vision problems due to a lack of gravity-induced pressure gradient.

Recently, a father-daughter team developed a method of quantifying the sustainability of a terraforming process. Morgan Irons noted that there wasn’t a way to measure whether something was sustainable accurately before this.

The Irons suggest using physics, ecological thermodynamics, and abductive reasoning to replicate the environment of Earth. This environment has enabled Earth to thrive.

Morgan Irons believes spending billions of dollars on a space settlement is a mistake. Without accounting for gravity, the settlement would not be adequate. Gravity is essential to how humans and Earth life function.

She declared that our bodies, ecosystems, energy movement, and energy utilization need 1G of gravity. This is unavailable elsewhere in the solar system, making it a crucial issue.

Lee Irons noted that Earth’s ecosystems contain many species of plants that produce oxygen. This reserve needs to be replicated for a sustainable outpost.

A system like this needs a lot of energy from the sun. The farther a planet or moon is from the sun, the less energy it will get. Two systems are in place to provide oxygen to a moon base: a primary system and a backup.

If both these systems were to fail, it would mean disaster for the astronauts.

Lee Irons mentioned that they would require a high level of energy. Maintaining an outpost’s environment is like trying to power an automobile with a mobile phone battery or powering an entire home.

The National Science Foundation financially backs Morgan Irons. She is a graduate student researcher at Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.

Additionally, she is a fellow at Cornell’s Carl Sagan Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences.