What was our planet like before the advent of our modern civilization? What effects has our civilization had on the planet and its ecological systems? Paradise Regained discusses these questions and then creates a scenario for the re-greening of Earth. The authors introduce new and innovative ideas on how humankind might use the resources of the solar system for terrestrial benefit. Earth would then become a place for a technologically advanced human civilization to live in synchronization, if not in harmony, with the environment which gave us birth. Since the formation of our solar system, the resources and ecological state of Earth have undergone many changes. The environmental challenges facing humanity today, as the authors posit them, will not be resolved simply by conservation and Earth-based alternative technologies. Paradise Regained considers the environmental dilemma and highlights the risk of humankind's future extinction from environmental degradation. Human population growth, climate change, and the strained sustainability of the few remaining habitats for wild life are all discussed. The authors, however, are not discouraged and offer a potential solution through the development of space. Not only will extraterrestrial resources help avert environmental disaster, but will also provide the basis for continued technological and societal progress. The resources of the solar system will help meet our projected industrial needs and feed our industry once terrestrial sources are depleted. Space-based power generation systems will work synergistically with Earth-based conservation. Paradise Regained concludes with the discussion on how closed ecological systems in space will help us to build a prosperous and sustainable future for all humanity.
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From the reviews: “It looks intriguing--using space resources as a way to reduce the strain on Earth’s environment by accessing space resources. … it will be highly informed and clearly explained for even the English majors in the reading audience. Looking forward to reading it!” (Rhetoric & Rockets, December, 2009) “The daily news is full of global climate change stories. … This book is a welcome addition to the discussion - one that focuses on the prospect that space can be a restorative ingredient to Earth’s future. … There’s a very helpful chapter-by-chapter summary at the start of this book - making this book all the more accessible and enjoyable. The reader will find healthy sections on the use of raw materials found in space … . put together a potent, thought-provoking book.” (Leonard David, Space Coalition Blog, January, 2010) “Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth is a scientifically informed voice of reason that addresses the environmental state of our world and how space technologies can improve it. … will be useful for all space activists to better explain how expanding the reach of space technologies will improve life on Earth.” (Bart Leahy, Ad Astra, Spring, 2010) “Paradise Regained is a bracing study of what we might do in the near future to make life better, and that includes asteroid missions that could help us protect the Earth … as well as missions to exploit their resources. … Buy two copies of this book and give one to your local school library. The ideas are spread out here in dazzling profusion … to those who see no value in space exploration and believe such funds should be spent here on Earth.” (Centauri Dreams, May, 2010) “It makes for good reading on the subject itself … . if your looking for a scientific overview, this is a good place to start. … If you’re looking a for very in-depth on each concept, this is a good starting point, and it does include some ‘further reading’ listings … . The writing is good. … The pictures were interesting, and I loved the color inserts in the middle. … Overall, this is a good book.” (GoodReads, March, 2010) “Cover to cover ‘Paradise Regained’ is only 180 pages long yet due to the concise nature of the writing it is crammed with information and ideas. … The book is split into three parts each dealing with a different aspect. … Overall, I very much enjoyed reading ‘Paradise Regained’ and found it to be very educational. The solutions put forward to our ecological problems were well thought out.” (GoodReads, March, 2010) “Paradise Regained (Les Johnson, Greg L Matloff, C Bangs) is a sweeping vision of how space science could buffer the Earth from a wide range of environmental woes, with Global Warming as a key exemplar. It is written in highly accessible language, and gorgeously illustrated by C Bangs. The book boldly takes us from the formation of the Earth, to the current environmental problems to the proposed solutions in space. … In summary, a fantastic, gorgeous broad sweep book buzzing with ideas … .” (Astroblog, May, 2010) “Out there now in book stores is the highly anticipated book by Brooklyn couple C Bangs and Greg Matloff, and Les Johnson of Alabama … . For a look of the trio’s book, view the fascinating DVD video on the You- Tube link below made by Bangs ... . It’s a wonderful video. The book is the subject of a wonderful full page review in the new issue of the National Space Society’s ‘ADASTRA Magazine’ which can be viewed from the Space com web site.” (Astro-Gaia News, July, 2010) “Physicists Johnson (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center) and Matloff (New York City College of Technology), along with Bangs, present a visionary overview of how solar system resources may help alleviate some of Earth’s major environmental challenges. … This work expands on the authors’ earlier book, Living Off the Land in Space (CH, Dec’07, 54-2052). … Summing Up: Recommended. … Lower-division undergraduates and general readers.” (N. Sprague, Choice, Vol. 48 (1), September, 2010)
From the Back Cover
What was our planet like before the advent of our modern civilization? What effect has our civilization had on the planet and its ecology? Paradise Regained begins by discussing these questions and then generates a scenario for the re-greening of Earth. It introduces new and innovative ideas on how humankind could use the resources of the Solar System for terrestrial benefit. The environmental challenges facing humanity today are too serious to be resolved simply by conservation and current technologies. Paradise Regained highlights the risk of humankind's future extinction from environmental degradation. Human population growth, climate change, and the diminishing sustainability of the few remaining habitats for wildlife are all analyzed. Rather than losing heart, we need to recognize that the answer to these problems lies in the development of space. Not only will extraterrestrial resources avert a crisis, but they will also provide the basis for continued technological and societal progress. The resources of the Solar System will help us meet our projected industrial needs. Space-based power generation systems will work synergistically with Earth-based conservation. The book concludes with a discussion on how closed ecological systems in space will function. This is a book that needs to be read urgently by many, if we are to save ourselves from environmental disasters and build a prosperous and sustainable future for all the creatures of Earth.
Les is the author or co-author of four published popular science books and two science fiction books. By day, Les is the Deputy Manager for NASA's Advanced Concepts Office at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. In the early 2000's, Les was NASA's Manager for Interstellar Propulsion Research and later managed the In-Space Propulsion Technology Project. He has worked for NASA since 1990 and has served in various technical and management roles.
He was the featured "interstellar explorer" in the January 2013 issue of National Geographic Magazine.
Les frequently speaks to the general public about space and science. He regularly speaks to civic and community groups throughout the southeastern United States and has done so in public forums in four countries. One student at the Tec de Monterey in Monterey, Mexico told him that he was "bigger than a rock star." (Now that's something a physicist does not hear very often!) He was the technical consultant for the movie, Lost in Space. NPR, CNN, Fox News, The Science Channel and The Discovery Channel have all interviewed him about space and space exploration. Most recently, he appeared on the Discovery Science Channel in three episodes of their July 2009 series about interplanetary and interstellar exploration called Exodus Earth.
Les is a frequent guest at various science fiction conventions at which he speaks about space, popular science, and, of course, his books. LibertyCon (400 attendees), MidSouthCon (500+ attendees), and DragonCon (20,000 attendees or more) are three conventions at which he is a regular guest speaker. And no, he does not wear pointy ears...
Les was the co-investigator on a Japanese space experiment flown in late 2010. He was the Chief Scientist for the ProSEDS space experiment, twice received NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal, and holds 3 space technology patents. He earned his Master's degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and his Bachelor's Degree from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. He has numerous peer-reviewed publications and was published in Analog. He is a frequent contributor to the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society and a member of the National Space Society, The World Future Society, and MENSA.
Although interested in the subject matter I began to read this book with great trepidation due to what I shall refer to as 'Cosmos Syndrome'. You see, when I was but a tween my aunt gave me a copy of the book 'Cosmos' by Carl Sagan. I loved that book, particular the pictures the likes of which I had never seen before, but most of the detailed commentary just flew right over my head. So when I read the inside cover of this book and seen it was written by a Doctor of Physics, a NASA Project Manager and a NASA Faculty Fellow I could do nothing other than think I was in for some very tough reading. As it happens I need not have worried as the book is written in a clear, concise and easy to understand manner. Cover to cover 'Paradise Regained' is only 180 pages long yet due to the concise nature of the writing it is crammed with information and ideas. This is something I found refreshing as too many books nowadays, whether fiction or non-fiction, flesh out their work for no apparent reason other than to up the page numbers and make it appear as if one is getting more bang for their buck. In fact they're getting unnecessary wordage that just slows or dulls down the overall content. The book is split into three parts each dealing with a different aspect. The first part deals with the formation and resources of earth and the solar system and is very much background information for the next two parts. The second part of the book deals with the here and now and the ecological challenges facing our planet. The third, and final, part of the book puts forward potential solutions to our problems through the development of space and its resources. Overall, I very much enjoyed reading 'Paradise Regained' and found it to be very educational.... The solutions put forward to our ecological problems were well thought out. Although, given that we live in a world where governments are far more willing to spend money on war and destruction than they are on saving the planet I found myself doubting whether the actual cost of instigating some of these potential solutions would ever be forthcoming by governments. However, the authors are dealing with solutions to problems and not the costs of those solutions and in that respect they have put forward some compelling and thought provoking scenarios.Read more ›
I've heard of Dyson spheres and Dyson swarms, but what exactly are Dyson 'dots'? As coined by Greg Matloff, C Bangs and Les Johnson in their book Paradise Regained, the term refers to a type of solar sail. These sails are not meant for moving things around the Solar System, but for reducing the amount of solar radiation hitting the Earth. The authors imagine large numbers of the Dyson dots placed near the L1 point, using the momentum from solar photons to maintain their position. Imagine thousands -- maybe millions -- of these sails equipped with sensors to receive the instructions of their builders, communicate with each other, and make changes in the configuration of the swarm.
Could you use a sail array like this to cool off the planet? From the book:
"...using reasonable middle values for the parasol parameters -- 80 percent reflectivity or albedo, mass 53 grams per square meter, positioned 2,100,000 kilometers from Earth -- we would need almost 700,000 km^2 of sunshade area to achieve a reduction of 0.25 percent in the solar constant, that is, some 37 million metric tons."
And let's put this into perspective:
"...bear in mind that the United States alone burns about one billion tonnes of coal every year. One supertanker of the many hauling petroleum around the world's oceans weighs about half a million tons fully loaded; and 37 megatonnes is roughly just 3 days' supply of crude oil... If each Dyson dot has an area of 10 km^2, then our array, or school, would consist of 70,000 units."
Now back into an even deeper perspective, which is what Paradise Regained is all about.... The authors advise us to look to extraterrestrial resources, to mine the heavens as a way of reducing the industrial footprint on Earth and restoring the planet's ecological balance. Think space for resources, then, and realize that the 37 million tonnes referred to above amounts to the mass of a single, small stony-iron asteroid some 300 meters across, which is a class of rock so small that we're only now starting to look for them.
Paradise Regained is a bracing study of what we might do in the near future to make life better, and that includes asteroid missions that could help us protect the Earth via methods like 'gravity tractors' and solar 'parasols' as well as missions to exploit their resources. In this context, the word 'exploitation' has less bite than it does on Earth, for resources in the Solar System are vast, and exist in an environment so deadly that there is little humans can do to degrade it. Moreover, a small asteroid 1 kilometer in diameter might contain 2 billion tons of iron ore, enough to meet the annual global demand for one year.
The asteroid 16 Psyche may contain enough iron ore to take care of our needs for millions of years. Moreover, many asteroids contain nickel, cobalt, copper, platinum and gold. Thousands of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) exist in the 100-meter range or bigger, providing an all but limitless pool of raw materials. Needless to say, the authors also throw into the mix the possibilities of tapping the Sun's energy output -- 3.86 X 10^26 watts every second of every day. The infrastructure needs are huge, encompassing spacecraft, solar arrays, antennae, ground support equipment and more. Can we afford to build it?
"...that all depends on the cost of energy and how much of a value we place on the environment. The cost of energy production is not as simple as dollars, euros or yen. What is the cost to the planet of the strip mining required for the coal we burn in our thousands of power plants? What is the payoff in reduced defense spending that will result from us not having to depend on the volatile Middle East for oil to generate electrical power? How much is it worth to eliminate the acid rain associated with the burning of fossil fuels? What benefits will we reap from a power system that produces no greenhouse gases? The authors contend that when the real societal costs are considered, as well as the real monetary cost from end to end, space-based solar power begins to look like a winner."
From mining to fusion, Paradise Regained covers the numerous options that space affords our species. As for the latter, helium-3 gets interesting because it's a potential fusion fuel that, while rare on Earth, seems to be plentiful in the lunar regolith. If we can ever make fusion viable, a mixture of deuterium (heavy hydrogen) and helium-3 is a desirable fuel choice because it produces little residual radioactivity. Some estimates of helium-3 on the moon run to about a million tons, a potential solution to our energy needs for centuries.
Because it is stuffed with possibilities, it's tempting to keep racing through this book popping out facts and prescient speculations, but I don't want to ignore the moving, poetic side of it, reinforced by C Bangs' lovely artwork, which harkens back to a pastoral world of the imagination even as it embeds itself in the cosmos. Thus the lovely Shakespeare quote from the introduction:
"I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows; Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbane, With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine."
That's from A Midsummer Night's Dream, and it conjures up a vernal Earth we'd like to preserve even as we spread the benefits of technology and industry to the less advantaged. Myths of a 'golden age' are just that, reflecting a time-honored nostalgia for a past that never truly was, but there is a sense that we can 'regain' that dreamed of Earth by creating it for ourselves, using our technology wisely to offload industrial activities to nearby space. Buy two copies of this book and give one to your local school library. The ideas are spread out here in dazzling profusion, a chastening reminder to those who see no value in space exploration and believe such funds should be spent here on Earth. Here we learn that the space payoff may be huge, transforming our planet even as it feeds our dreams.Read more ›
At first, I was disappointed that this book was not longer and more technical. Then I remembered who the target audience should be - an average American - not a few geeks who already know about the problems and possible solutions. Why preach to the choir?
I respect the attempts these scientists are making to reach the lay public with solutions to our environmental crises. This laconic work is written so that a 12-year old can easily follow and grasp how humanity evolved to where we are today, and why our rampant consumerism and population growth is putting a strain on the earth's resources and destroying the habitats, thus killing off, other species. It gets slightly more technical in the third section when discussing mitigating global warming, protecting earth from asteroid collisions, and the challenges to using solar energy and biofuels, but nothing above the 10th grade level. In a time when all visions of the future in our media seem hopeless, this book is a rallying call that to throw in the towel is not an option. For the sake of our children, we can not shrug this responsibility. We may never find another earth-like planet, so we had better take care of this one, and it can be done if we make it a priority. I just know how things work in American politics; nobody takes action until the average person is being inconvenienced by a problem, and by then it costs ten times as much and three times as long to fix it. Like the authors say, we may run out of fossil fuels in 50 years or 300, but it will happen, and the destruction to the biodiversity of our planet during that time will be permanent...and I think, sad.
One disagreement I did have with the authors is their solution to overpopulation.... They propose that people would be willing to move into an arcopolis, i.e., high-rise skyscrapers connected to each other by high-speed rail, thus eliminating cars and decreasing the amount of space used by each human. Anyone who has read Robert Silverberg's book THE WORLD INSIDE might beg to differ. Sure, some people might adapt to that lifestyle, but not everyone...then there will be inequality. Americans love their big back yards and their privacy. They love their personal transport. They treasure their large homes. I don't see them giving any of that up. Most would argue that those are the things that make our quality of life better than the Chinese or Japanese in their cramped cities. For quality of life purposes, there will have to be some sort of governmental control on population sooner or later. It will be resisted for a long time, but eventually it will be necessary if we don't want to all live like sardines in a can. Either that, or we will all die because we wiped out some species vital to our existence without realizing it. Anyway, great book, quick read, should be mandatory in high school science classes.Read more ›
