Publications and open problems

The institute's active research directions.

1. 01
   The sulfate–carbonate incompatibility, quantified.

   No published treatment models carbon-sequestration capacity in a Mars ocean whose pH is set by the observed sulfate inventory. Tractable with standard geochemical codes and measured SO₃ abundances.

   CLOSED. See Constraint Analysis 002 below. The answer is that no incompatibility exists at ocean scale, and that a different and previously unstated constraint takes its place.

2. 02
   Aerosol warming under planet-encircling dust events.

   Interaction of engineered particles with global dust storms is not closed.

3. 03
   Hydrogen-escape flux as a rate limit on oxygenation.

   The water route vents 7.8×10¹⁶ kg H₂. Whether Jeans escape can carry that flux, or whether H₂ accumulates to hazardous fractions, sets a maximum oxygenation rate. Uncomputed.

4. 04
   Nitrogen logistics as a mission-design problem.

   Optimized low-thrust trajectories and Titan atmospheric-mining architectures are open engineering territory.

5. 05
   Partial-gravity biology.

   Below ~0.4 g, human musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary health may be unmaintainable long-term, with no known countermeasures, and no reproduction data at any partial gravity. The one blocker terraforming cannot address at all.