How Would a Flood Affect Jupiter and Mars?

TL;DR

A flood reaching Jupiter would require an extraordinary influx of water or ice, imagined here as a vast storm of comet-like objects that could endanger the entire solar system. Mars already contains extensive frozen water beneath its surface and in ice caps, while exposed surface ice turns directly into gas and enters the planet’s thin atmosphere.

Transcript

hello and welcome to dear Hank and John or as I like to think of it dear Travis and Oh Travis what are you doing here for this very weird and short and special episode of dear Hank and John well I'm glad you asked basically what's happening is the McElroy brothers have decided that we are going to like a virus spread throughout ever... Read More

Key Insights

• PodCon is presented as a gathering where podcast creators and listeners can discuss production, audience preferences, creative developments, and the growth of podcasting as an art form. The event also lets creators participate as fans of other shows and meet people whose work they admire.
• The crowdfunding campaign helps PodCon organizers estimate available resources before inviting participants. Knowing the campaign’s support level allows them to determine whether they can cover practical expenses such as flights and hotel rooms, instead of merely offering invited creators a place onstage.
• PodCon tickets remain available after the crowdfunding campaign ends, but they become more expensive. Some higher-level ticket options also disappear entirely, so the hosts encourage interested listeners to participate before the campaign closes if they want lower pricing or access to those levels.
• PodCon support includes more than admission to the event. The campaign offers different reward levels involving meet-and-greets, sponsorship, a thumb drive containing episodes, merchandise bags, and other items, giving supporters both event participation and additional benefits connected to the podcast community.
• Remote attendance is an option for people who cannot travel to Seattle. For a lower price, remote supporters can receive recordings of material produced at the event through their preferred podcast feed application, allowing them to experience PodCon in the same format they ordinarily use for podcasts.
• A flood on Jupiter is reframed as a massive arrival of water-rich icy objects. Hank imagines a wave of comet-like bodies originating far beyond the planets and striking Jupiter, while noting that an event insufficiently precise to hit only Jupiter could threaten the entire solar system.
• Mars already contains substantial frozen water, according to Hank’s answer. Water ice appears in the planet’s ice caps and below the surface in many places, so transporting a large quantity of water there would not introduce a substance that the planet currently lacks.
• Surface ice on Mars sublimates, meaning it changes directly from a solid into a gas. That water then enters Mars’s very thin atmosphere, which lacks enough pressure for exposed water to behave in the same way that water commonly behaves under conditions on Earth.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why was PodCon created for podcast creators and fans?

PodCon was created to bring podcast creators and podcast listeners together around a medium that the hosts describe as still relatively new and developing. Its purpose includes discussing production, examining what audiences enjoy, considering changes in the art form, strengthening the podcast community, and giving fans and creators opportunities to celebrate shows they admire.

Q: How did crowdfunding help the PodCon organizers plan the event?

Crowdfunding gave the organizers a clearer idea of how many people and activities they could financially support. That information mattered when inviting guests because the organizers wanted to offer more than an appearance onstage. With sufficient backing, they could potentially pay for practical expenses such as an invited participant’s flight and hotel room.

Q: What changed after the PodCon crowdfunding campaign ended?

Tickets were expected to remain available after the crowdfunding campaign, so missing the campaign did not necessarily eliminate the possibility of attending. However, the hosts said ticket prices would increase after the campaign ended. They also warned that some higher-level ticket options would no longer be available, making early participation more advantageous for interested listeners.

Q: What rewards were included in the PodCon crowdfunding campaign?

The campaign offered benefits beyond basic admission to PodCon. Depending on the selected support level, rewards included meet-and-greets, sponsorship opportunities, a thumb drive filled with episodes, merchandise bags, and other items. The hosts framed these options as a way to support the event while also receiving benefits and participating in the resulting gathering.

Q: How could someone attend PodCon without traveling to Seattle?

People unable to travel to Seattle could choose a lower-priced remote attendance perk. Instead of attending physically, they would receive material recorded during the event through their preferred podcast feed application. The hosts considered this a natural alternative because remote participants could experience PodCon content through the same listening method they already used for podcasts.

Q: What might happen if a massive flood reached Jupiter?

Hank interprets a Jovian flood as an enormous wave of water-rich icy bodies, resembling a vast interplanetary or interstellar comet storm. Such a swarm might strike Jupiter, but it would be unlikely to target only that planet with perfect precision. Under the imagined scenario, the wider solar system could also be struck, creating catastrophic danger.

Q: Would delivering a huge amount of water to Mars add something the planet lacks?

Delivering water to Mars would not introduce an entirely absent material because Mars already contains a great deal of frozen water. Hank points to water ice in the planet’s ice caps and below its surface in many locations. The proposed shipment would therefore add to existing Martian water rather than creating the planet’s first water supply.

Q: What happens to exposed water ice on the surface of Mars?

Exposed water ice on Mars sublimates, which means it changes directly from a solid state into a gas instead of first becoming liquid. The resulting water vapor enters the Martian atmosphere. Hank attributes this behavior to the planet’s very thin atmosphere and its insufficient pressure, distinguishing surface conditions there from familiar conditions on Earth.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Hank Green and Travis McElroy introduce a short special episode connected to the approaching end of the PodCon crowdfunding campaign. They discuss PodCon as a gathering for podcast creators and listeners, emphasizing its focus on production, creative exchange, community building, live participation, and appreciation of podcasts as a developing art form.

• The PodCon crowdfunding campaign helps organizers estimate attendance and determine how much travel and lodging support they can offer invited participants. Tickets remain available after the campaign, but the price increases and certain higher-level options disappear. Campaign rewards also include meet-and-greets, episode collections, merchandise bags, sponsorship opportunities, and other benefits.

• A preschooler’s question about a flood reaching Jupiter leads to a playful scientific thought experiment. Hank imagines a huge wave of icy objects striking Jupiter and spreading danger throughout the solar system. Travis then asks about delivering water to Mars, prompting Hank to explain that Mars already has abundant frozen water and surface ice sublimates.