• Question: in the future could the body use energy to break the bonds in the carbon dioxide bond since its a covalent bond and use the oxygen to essentially live? and couldn't this adaption allow us to travel to different planets?

    Asked by A person to Charlotte, hannahmoir, Majid, Richard, Sam on 8 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Richard Sulston

      Richard Sulston answered on 8 Mar 2016:

      Good question.

      When our body used food such as sugar it breaks the covalent bonds to split it smaller molecules which releases energy for us to use. As the molecules get broken more and become smaller they eventually end up as carbon dioxide (CO2). This is a very stable molecule and would actually need energy to break the covalent bond rather than release it. This is why we breathe it out.

      On the other hand, plants are able to break CO2 which creates oxygen and sugars, this is photosynthesis but instead of releasing energy it needs energy to be provided. This energy is provided by the sun and collected by the leaves of the plant.

      So, for long distance space travel where we wouldn’t be able to bring enough stored oxygen for the whole journey we would need to bring plants which are able to use the energy of the sun to convert CO2 back to sugar and oxygen which we could use to provide energy and CO2 which the plants could use and so on.

      I hope that makes sense, let me know if you have any other questions.

    • Photo: Sam Smith

      Sam Smith answered on 8 Mar 2016:

      Really excellent question, thanks for asking.

      Personally, I’d say no I don’t think this will happen. Unless there was a reason for us to adapt like this then I don’t see how it will be favourable for us to evolve in this manner. That said, if the atmosphere in our own planet changes substantially then that may facilitate a change – but this will happen over such a long period of time we certainly won’t be around to see it! We also have a whole host of other problems to solve before we can travel to other planets!

    • Photo: Charlotte Green

      Charlotte Green answered on 8 Mar 2016:

      I like your thinking and as Sam says for this to happen we would need a big stimulus or stress such as an atmosphere change tin order to trigger such an evolution.

      However, I think it is a cool concept maybe you are destined for a theoretical science or astro-physics career? (Think big bang theory if you watch that)

    • Photo: Hannah Moir

      Hannah Moir answered on 8 Mar 2016:

      Hi, this is an interesting question and the others have responded with some great points. You have the thoughts of what makes a true scientist! Good luck!

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