Science fiction has thought of this decades ago. Possibly the most drastic environmental effects that any human activity has wrought so far.
Consider - sunlight duration is a critical trigger in the lifecycle of many, many species, most very tiny. Insects and smaller. They can time dormancy to day length. Not the average, since weather is so fickle: even a flicker of sunlight means daylight because, only the sun can do that so it must be up there.
Bring a species out of dormancy at the wrong time of year, and it'll probably die. Do it over a broad area and it becomes an extinction event.
What micro-biomes can we do without? Who knows. These guys aren't even talking about it, I imagine. Just a gee-whiz thing - We can make it as bright as day, during the night! Wouldn't that be cool?
Original Title: Scientists reveal controversial plan to launch 50,000 MIRRORS into space for 'sunlight on demand' – but sceptics warn it poses 'serious risks' to wildlife and humans
Science fiction has thought of this decades ago. Possibly the most drastic environmental effects that any human activity has wrought so far.
Consider - sunlight duration is a critical trigger in the lifecycle of many, many species, most very tiny. Insects and smaller. They can time dormancy to day length. Not the average, since weather is so fickle: even a flicker of sunlight means daylight because, only the sun can do that so it must be up there.
Bring a species out of dormancy at the wrong time of year, and it'll probably die. Do it over a broad area and it becomes an extinction event.
What micro-biomes can we do without? Who knows. These guys aren't even talking about it, I imagine. Just a gee-whiz thing - We can make it as bright as day, during the night! Wouldn't that be cool?
Not cool.
Original Title: Scientists reveal controversial plan to launch 50,000 MIRRORS into space for 'sunlight on demand' – but sceptics warn it poses 'serious risks' to wildlife and humans