Article

2015-08-13 -Short Attention Span Theater-

Can the Planet Support 11 Billion People?

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Posted by DarthVader 2015-08-13 00:31|| || Front Page|| [9 views ] Top

#1 Yes.

In greater depth:
With current food production we can support many more than we have currently. Nearly 30% and more of our crop goes to waste because of shipping issues or lack of demand. With hydroponics and other technologies we can support that many people with our current agricultural lands.

However....

Potable water is the main issue. You can't grow water or manufacture it. You can only collect or pump it from a well (and those are going dry from demand). Figuring out more efficient irrigation methods and waste disposal methods is key to supporting a greater population. Heck, even pulling in some icy comets to process several million cubic feet of water would be a great help. Figuring out desensitization that didn't increase the saltiness of the oceans would work too.

There are a lot of challenges to overcome to support that population but the human race has shown it can easily figure it out. Just as long as we are allowed to thrive and keep the goddamn greens off our backs.

Posted by DarthVader 2015-08-13 00:38|| 2015-08-13 00:38|| Front Page Top

#2 Depends on what kind of people they are.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2015-08-13 05:45|| 2015-08-13 05:45|| Front Page Top

#3 Perhaps not, better colonize Mars and the Moon fast.

Posted by rjschwarz 2015-08-13 14:43|| 2015-08-13 14:43|| Front Page Top

#4 And I'm all for sending a ship full of left-thinking folks off to the star of their choice so they can create a paradise that will make them happy.

Posted by rjschwarz 2015-08-13 14:44|| 2015-08-13 14:44|| Front Page Top

#5 And I'm all for sending a ship full of left-thinking folks off to the star of their choice so they can create a paradise that will make them happy.

What makes them happy is making the rest of us miserable.

Posted by charger 2015-08-13 19:59|| 2015-08-13 19:59|| Front Page Top

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