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**w4WBthjv** · 08-15-2012, 02:54 AM

Bit of a science-fiction question: are there any circumstances in which a completely lifeless planet/moon could sustain enough atmospheric oxygen to support some humans for some time? (I can't think of any).

Give it water or ice, or whatever elemental weirdness you can think of, as long as humans could conceivably walk around there without vac-suits. But no native life, not even bacteria.

Well if we look at that situation in reverse, that is we found a planet with Oxygen, we could be confident of it supporting life of some sort.
What type of conditions could exist on Mars, to release enough Oxygen from either water/Ice or its CO2 atmosphere to support life?....Internal heating???
I'm not sure of the answer, but I would think that there maybe some circumstances to align with the requirements of your question.....
We need a chemist.

08-15-2012, 02:54 AM	#2
w4WBthjv Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 525 Senior Member	Bit of a science-fiction question: are there any circumstances in which a completely lifeless planet/moon could sustain enough atmospheric oxygen to support some humans for some time? (I can't think of any). Give it water or ice, or whatever elemental weirdness you can think of, as long as humans could conceivably walk around there without vac-suits. But no native life, not even bacteria. Well if we look at that situation in reverse, that is we found a planet with Oxygen, we could be confident of it supporting life of some sort. What type of conditions could exist on Mars, to release enough Oxygen from either water/Ice or its CO2 atmosphere to support life?....Internal heating??? I'm not sure of the answer, but I would think that there maybe some circumstances to align with the requirements of your question..... We need a chemist.
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