dejoe

[dejoe]

The Vibe Coding Revolution

Vibe coding isn't about the code, its about the intent.

That’s the radical idea behind this new approach to building things with technology. Vibe Coding, as defined by Andrej Karpathy, is the practice of using AI tools and minimal human input to create functional, even elegant, digital experiences—without getting bogged down in the weeds of technical execution.

It’s coding for the rest of us, where the focus is on what you want to build, not how. And it’s a movement that’s quietly upending the world of software development.

The tools of the trade are usually Cursor IDE, Windshark, and in some cases plain old ChatGPT. Usually Claude Sonnet gives better results with Cursor. However now the newer models which are geared towards coder are killing it.

Before it got a name, this has been popular and there were many that were building code through this. I recently saw a team of high school students win a bootcamp with a Vibe-Coded app. They wanted pitched a "Smart AI Mirror" that would provide a score for skin health. As a demo of how it would appear, they vibe coded a webapp. They had no knowledge on React or Tailwind. They know what they wanted and voila they had an app.

My Vibe Coding Experiment

I wanted a digital clock for my pomodoro sessions. Something like bigtimer.net; however the ads in them were a turnoff. That started my quest to build it. Instead of my approach of starting with an architecture and design, I thought why not vibe it out.

The result - a working app - dejoe.github.io/timer ; I used plain prompts with no prompt engineering. This was intentional to see the mileage I could get without getting fancy. Also did not provide it with technical inputs. There was only one place where I did provide it with a technical input, mostly because I was being impatient.

Here are the prompts that I had used :

Write a javascript and HTML program, that will create a full page timer.

The page must contain two elements:

Clock. The clock should just be mm:ss. It should start decrementing seconds for every second when the clock is started

Start Button. The start button on click must start the clock. Then it should convert into stop button. The start button must be center aligned and below the clock.

___________

There should be a way to enter the hours and seconds before starting the clock.

___________

There are a few issues with this.

Input has hours and minutes.

Display has both only minutes and seconds. The clock display should have hours minutes and seconds.

Then if there are no hours input, then it must not display NaN

___________

This looks good, can you make it full screen though

___________

the .container has 100vw. However the clock font is small. It does not expand to fit the entire screen.

___________

this code works.

Can you style the button a bit

___________

two more requests. Can you make the inputs and the buttons take up a single line.

Also can you create a fullscreen mode. Where the page will occupy the full screen.

Also a dark mode.

If possible have a bottom panel, which will fit all the above buttons, along with the input and start / stop button

___________

can you make the font of the clock to be 24vw instead of javascript based font size

Then can you provide a way to pause the timer when it has started apart from stopping.

Also can you provide beep for 5 seconds, when the timer reaches 0

____________

javascript error in the page

____________

Learnings:

AI does the heavy lifting, with minimal input. The less I specified, the more it relied on its own “vibe” of what a timer should be.

Dark mode and fullscreen? Just ask. I didn’t explain how to implement them—I just wanted them. The model figured it out.

You’ll get features you don’t want. The hours part in the clock? I still don’t use it. But I let it stay. Perfection is the enemy of the vibe.

Vibe Coding isn’t about replacing developers—it’s about expanding the definition of who can create. It’s about saying, “I want this thing. Make it happen.”

The high schoolers won because they focused on the vibe of their idea, not the technical specs. They didn’t get lost in the code; they got lost in the why.

So, what do you want to build? A productivity tool? A personal dashboard? A silly game? Write down. Be lazy with your prompts. Let the AI do the heavy lifting.

[dejoe]

MD5 - The Cryptographic Dinosaur

MD5. Once the go-to cryptographic hash function, MD5 was widely used to verify data integrity and ensure secure communications. It was simple, fast, and ubiquitous. However, it has been considered cryptographically broken since 2004. But just like that old favorite pair of sneakers we stubbornly hang onto, MD5 is now outdated—and in many ways, downright dangerous.

Researchers have demonstrated that the MD5 algorithm is vulnerable to preimage attacks and that MD5 suffers from collision vulnerabilities. Even though MD5 is no longer suitable for security purposes, it’s still used in contexts where hashing is more about efficiency than about safeguarding critical data.

File Integrity Checking

Perhaps the most common non-security use for MD5 is in file integrity checks. When downloading files from the internet or transferring data, MD5 hashes are used to verify that the files haven't been corrupted in transit. If the hash values match on both ends, you know the file is intact.

However, this doesn’t pose a major security risk because the goal here isn’t to protect against tampering—it’s simply to ensure that files are transferred without error. In these cases, MD5's vulnerability to collisions isn’t a concern because the hash isn’t being used to secure anything sensitive. It’s more about checking for data integrity in non-sensitive contexts.

Load Balancers and Caching Algorithms

MD5 also finds its place in load balancing and caching systems. In a load balancing scenario, MD5 might be used to hash client requests to distribute network traffic evenly across servers. Similarly, caching algorithms might use MD5 to quickly generate cache keys, optimizing performance by ensuring that data retrieval is fast and efficient.

In these cases, MD5’s weaknesses don’t present significant risks either, as the hash isn’t protecting any sensitive data, just helping to streamline processes. Speed is the priority here, not security. As long as the systems relying on MD5 are not used for protecting sensitive information, the risk is minimal.

MD5 is cheap, fast, and still in use today because it can handle tasks where security isn’t the primary concern. But as soon as you need security—whether it’s password storage, digital signatures, or sensitive data verification—MD5 simply isn’t enough.

[dejoe]

The Paradox of Lottery Winners

Studies have shown that many lottery winners return to their previous financial status within a few years. The reason? Winning money doesn't address the underlying financial habits, mindset, and behaviors that contributed to their initial financial situation. Without addressing these root causes, the windfall becomes a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

Similarly, every January, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions. They vow to change, to improve, to finally lose those last few pounds or quit a bad habit. The excitement is palpable. The first week feels like a fresh start. But by February, many of those resolutions are forgotten, abandoned, or just too hard to keep up with.

There's a fascinating parallel between lottery winners and New Year's resolution makers. Both groups experience an initial surge of optimism and motivation, believing they're on the cusp of transformative change. However, the outcomes often follow a similar disappointing trajectory.

If you win the lottery but never change the way you view money, your tendency to overspend, or your unhealthy relationship with wealth, you’re just setting yourself up for failure. The same is true with resolutions. If you don’t fix the root causes—the mindsets that tell you you're not worthy, the habits that drive you to procrastinate, the fears that keep you from taking action—then your resolutions are just temporary distractions.

True change comes from understanding why you’ve been stuck in the first place—and then taking small, consistent steps to change the patterns that got you there. This is the hard part. And it’s the part that most people skip. It’s easier to dream of a sudden, magical transformation—whether it’s a lottery win or a resolution achieved in a week.

But real change is messy. It’s gradual. And it’s permanent—if you’re willing to do the work.

Few pointers to help you along the way:

Understand and address the root cause

Develop sustainable behaviors and habits

Create Systems that support long term change

Build mental resilience

[dejoe]

Chatham House Rules - The Key to Unfiltered Conversations

Think about this for a moment: In environments where people’s opinions are constantly scrutinized, whether it’s in the political world, business, or even day-to-day social interactions, the fear of judgment often holds people back. This is where Chatham House Rules come in—by ensuring privacy and anonymity, participants are empowered to speak freely.

The Chatham House Rules originated in 1927 at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (known as Chatham House) in London. The rule is incredibly straightforward: If you participate in a meeting or discussion held under Chatham House Rules, you’re free to use the information shared, but you cannot reveal who said what.

One could argue that modern-day social media has adopted a similar principle—albeit without a formal name—through spaces where anonymity and pseudonymity encourage users to speak freely. Think about platforms like Reddit, where people post under usernames and feel less restricted in expressing their true opinions, especially on controversial or personal topics.

Of course, anonymity doesn’t always guarantee responsible behavior, and it can sometimes lead to misinformation or trolling. But, in spaces where the focus is on the exchange of ideas rather than personal identity, these platforms become a modern-day equivalent to the privacy that Chatham House Rules aim to provide.

In the age of constant scrutiny, these rules are more relevant than ever—because sometimes, we all need a safe space to speak our minds.

[dejoe]

The Late Fee That Launched a Dream (or Did It?)

It’s the story that inspired a thousand startups: A frustrated customer faces a common inconvenience, has a eureka moment, and builds a billion-dollar company. For Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, that inconvenience was a $40 late fee for failing to return a VHS copy of Apollo 13 to Blockbuster Video.

Hastings often recounted this anecdote as the spark for Netflix’s groundbreaking DVD rental and subscription model. It was relatable, dramatic, and perfectly aligned with the frustrations of the time. Who hadn’t wrestled with those dreaded late fees?

But here’s the twist: the story wasn’t true.

Blockbuster investigated Hastings’ account and found no record of the fine or the late return. The company even asked him to stop using the tale in his pitches. While the anecdote made for great storytelling, it was ultimately a fabrication. A great idea doesn’t need embellishment to succeed. Netflix became a household name because of its innovation and ability to adapt to the times.

When a bring eyed kid recently asked me if they could embellish a story for their "best day of their life", I was reminded of this. I was glad in the end that they did not chose to embellish. They felt that their experience itself was interesting enough.

[dejoe]

Edge Erosion

In the world of finance, there's a concept called "edge erosion." It describes how any advantage an investor might have—a unique trading strategy, superior information, or even just plain luck—tends to diminish over time. Competitors copy successful strategies, information becomes widely available, and luck, well, it runs out. But the power of edge erosion isn't confined to Wall Street. It's a powerful mental model that applies to almost any area where competition exists, from career advancement to skill development and even knowledge itself. Imagine you discover a hidden gem of a stock, undervalued by the market. You buy in, and as others catch on, the price rises, and you profit. But as more and more people buy, the undervaluation disappears, and your initial edge—knowing about the stock before everyone else—is gone. That's edge erosion in action.

Think of it like a gold rush. The first prospectors find nuggets lying on the surface. Easy pickings! But as more miners arrive, those easy nuggets are gone. The remaining gold requires more effort: digging deeper, using more sophisticated equipment. The initial "edge" of being first erodes.

This same principle applies far beyond investing. Like say knowledge, innovation etc.

In today's information age, having access to specific knowledge is rarely a long-term advantage. Information spreads rapidly online. What was cutting-edge research a year ago might be common knowledge today. The "edge" of knowing something first erodes quickly.

In innovation for example, when a new class of product arrives, competitors quickly catch up. For example smartphones, LLMs etc. Competitors will inevitably try to copy or improve upon it. Patents offer some protection, but they eventually expire.

Few ideas to mitigate this:

Don't rely on single advantage

Improve continuously. Keep finding new edges

Embrace adaptability and learning.

Edge erosion is a fundamental force that affects almost every aspect of life. Recognizing its influence allows us to adopt a more proactive and sustainable approach to achieving our goals. By embracing continuous learning, adaptation, and a focus on process, we can stay ahead of the curve and thrive in a world of constant change. Don't get comfortable with your current edge; start building your next one today.

[dejoe]

Why Apple's Pentalobe Screws Are a Design Flaw

Apple’s use of pentalobe screws in its devices has been a point of contention for years, and for good reason. While the sleek, five-pointed screws might seem like a small detail, they represent a much bigger issue: an inferior and anti-consumer design choice that creates unnecessary barriers for repairability.

Mechanically, pentalobe screws are far from ideal. Pentalobe screws are prone to stripping due to its small draft, especially if you don’t use the right tools. Over time, this can make even simple repairs almost impossible. Stripped screws are a common complaint, and once they’re damaged, removing them requires specialized equipment or a professional, further complicating the repair process.

Beyond the mechanical flaws, Apple’s choice to use pentalobe screws is a deliberate move to limit consumer control over their devices. It forces users to buy specialized screwdrivers or rely on Apple’s expensive repair services, creating a repair monopoly. This design choice discourages DIY repairs more difficult, ultimately reducing the lifespan of devices and contributing to the growing issue of e-waste.

[dejoe]

What happens when a road is salted and why it is bad ?

Imagine a snowy day in Oregon. While many states blanket their roads in salt, Oregon often opts for a different approach.

Firstly, why do cities season their roads?(pun intended) The secret lies in a simple chemical reaction. Salt, typically sodium chloride (the same stuff you sprinkle on your fries!), lowers the freezing point of water. This means it can melt ice even in sub-zero temperatures.

This magic has some serious advantages. Salted roads become safer for drivers, reducing accidents and the risk of injury. It also minimizes the need for extensive snow plowing, saving time and money for both the city and individual citizens.

However, this icy alchemy comes at a cost. Salt runoff contaminates waterways, harming aquatic life. When it washes off roads and into waterways, it increases the salinity of freshwater environments. This can harm or even kill aquatic life, such as fish, insects, and plants, that are adapted to low-salt conditions. High salinity can disrupt their osmoregulation (the process of maintaining the proper balance of fluids and salts within their bodies), leading to dehydration and death.

Salt also accelerates the corrosion of metals. When road salt comes into contact with the metal parts of vehicles, it initiates a chemical reaction. This reaction, known as electrolysis, breaks down the metal, causing rust and weakening the structural integrity of the vehicle. This can lead to costly repairs and shorten the lifespan of your car.

States like Oregon, which limit road salt use, employ a variety of strategies to mitigate winter driving hazards.

Alternative de-icing agents

Sand provides traction on icy roads, improving vehicle control. Beet juice offers a more environmentally friendly option, effectively de-icing roads while minimizing harm to ecosystems. Magnesium chloride, another salt-based alternative, is less corrosive than sodium chloride, reducing damage to vehicles and infrastructure.

Improved Road Design

Ensuring adequate drainage systems minimizes ice formation by preventing water from pooling on the road surface. In some cases, road grades are designed to facilitate natural snow melt.

These strategies, while not completely eliminating the risk of icy roads, aim to minimize the need for salt while maintaining road safety.

[dejoe]

The 3D Printing Revolution: When the Printer Built Itself (Almost)

Remember when 3D printers were the exclusive toys of giant corporations? Back then, the idea of bringing one into your garage was about as likely as building a rocket ship in your backyard. But then came RepRap, the brainchild of a daring professor named Adrian Bowyer. His radical idea? A 3D printer that could... print itself!

Imagine the scene: Bowyer, probably wearing a slightly bewildered expression, watching his first RepRap printer, lovingly named "Darwin," slowly extrude its own plastic parts. It was like witnessing a robot giving birth to a smaller, slightly less impressive robot. Did he print a tiny screwdriver first? A miniature teacup? No, of course not. He printed more printer parts, because priorities.

RepRap wasn't just about self-replication; it was about democratizing 3D printing. By open-sourcing the designs, Bowyer unleashed a wave of tinkering and collaboration. Suddenly, hobbyists were building their own printers in garages, basements, and even, I kid you not, on kitchen tables. The internet buzzed with discussions about filament types, failed prints, and the occasional triumphant post of a perfectly printed gear.

The impact of RepRap is undeniable. It sparked a global movement, fueling the rise of affordable desktop printers that are now commonplace. From personalized gadgets to life-saving medical implants, 3D printing is transforming industries. So, the next time you marvel at a 3D-printed creation, remember the quirky professor and his self-replicating dream. It may not have been perfectly self-sufficient (who needs a self-printing teacup anyway?), but it revolutionized how we create.

[dejoe]

Hungarian Algorithm: Orchestrating the Drone Symphony

Drone shows, feature synchronized flights of hundreds or thousands of drones. One of the key challenges in these drone shows is coordinating the movements of numerous drones in a precise and dynamic formation, ensuring they move in sync and avoid collisions. The control system behind this coordination relies on a combination of algorithms, with the Hungarian algorithm being one of the most critical components.

The Hungarian algorithm plays a key role in optimizing the assignment of drones to positions in the formation. In the case of drone shows, the tasks are the positions in the formation that need to be filled, and the workers are the drones. The goal is to assign each drone to a position in the formation such that the overall "cost" (usually measured in terms of distance or energy) is minimized.

The cost is often based on factors such as:

The distance between the drone’s current position and the target position in the formation.

The energy consumption required to reach the target position.

Any potential obstacles or areas that are difficult to fly through.

The Hungarian algorithm then finds the optimal assignment that minimizes the total cost. As the formation evolves, the algorithm can be recalculated in real-time to ensure drones are always placed optimally. If a drone deviates from its expected path or if an unforeseen obstacle appears, the algorithm will quickly reassign drones to minimize any disruptions to the formation.

While the Hungarian algorithm helps with the global assignment and coordination of drones, each drone’s onboard system is typically responsible for making local decisions to avoid nearby obstacles and drones. Drones are fitted with sensors like GPS, LIDAR, optical sensor, etc. This helps in distance measurements. This decentralized approach allows drones to react to dynamic changes in their environment without needing constant communication with the central control system. Sensor fusion and adaptive algorithms enable real-time adjustments, ensuring the show remains flawless despite unexpected events.

[dejoe]

You're Being "Rotisserie Chickened": The Sneaky Truth Behind That $5 Bargain

Ever wondered how Costco can sell a perfectly roasted chicken for a measly $4.99? It’s a classic loss leader. Costco sells their rotisserie chicken for around $4.99, despite it costing them an estimated $7-$8 to produce. That’s a $2 loss per chicken. Around $30 million in loss annually.

Forget what you thought you knew about loss leaders. This isn't just about enticing you with a cheap chicken. It's a calculated game of desire, a masterful orchestration of your impulses. That seemingly innocent bird is strategically positioned at the end of the store, amidst an array of gourmet cheeses, fine wines, and irresistible snacks. You're not just buying a chicken, you're being lured into a trap. A trap of high margin items.

Think Amazon Prime Video. "Free" entertainment? Nope. You're paying for the privilege of access, and convenience that translates into more spending across the Amazon ecosystem. Costco's chicken operates on the same principle. It's a gateway drug, a taste of irresistible value that opens your wallet to an array of impulse buys.

But here's the kicker: this isn't just about big corporations manipulating you. It's a reflection of our own consumer behavior. We crave deals, we love a bargain. And businesses, clever as they are, simply capitalize on this inherent human weakness.

True value isn't always about the individual price tag. It's about the bigger picture, the ecosystem of consumption we willingly participate in. So, next time you're tempted by that $4.99 rotisserie chicken, remember: you're not just saving money; you're playing a game, and you might just be the one who loses. Unless you walk out with just the bird, which we rarely do!

[dejoe]

Trees Need Wolves. Salmon Too!

In the early 20th century, wolves were eradicated from Yellowstone National Park. The immediate consequence? An explosion in the elk population. Without their natural predators, elk numbers swelled, and as a result, they overgrazed on young trees, particularly aspens and willows. This overgrazing decimated vegetation, which in turn affected the entire ecosystem. The fauna suffered, and the landscape began to shift dramatically.

But then, in 1995, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone. The effect was nothing short of transformative. As wolf numbers increased, elk populations decreased. Grazing pressure on young trees lightened. In a matter of years, vegetation began to rebound, and even the physical landscape started to change—rivers stabilized, beaver populations increased, and bird life flourished. The wolves, it turns out, weren't just keeping elk in check; they were maintaining the delicate balance that allowed entire ecosystems to thrive.

This delicate balance isn’t just about wolves. In the Pacific Northwest, trees rely on the nutrients carried by salmon. Each year, salmon swim upstream to spawn, only to die shortly after. The decaying carcasses of these fish provide an extraordinary bounty of nutrients for the forest. According to studies, these nutrients—rich in nitrogen and other elements—are carried into the soil by scavengers, allowing trees to grow stronger, faster, and healthier. The forest ecosystem, much like Yellowstone, relies on this symbiosis.

Ecosystems are not linear. Wolves benefit trees. Salmon benefit trees. And we, in turn, benefit from the intricate, often surprising connections that bind nature together. Understanding these relationships isn’t just a lesson in ecology; it’s a reminder that everything is connected.

[dejoe]

Will Energy Efficiency Actually Lead to Energy Savings?

For years, governments around the world—whether in the EU, North America, or beyond—have set ambitious goals to improve energy efficiency as a primary solution to combating climate change and reducing resource consumption. From policies promoting energy-efficient appliances to standards for renewable energy adoption, the hope is that improving efficiency will lead to less energy use and lower emissions.

But what if all this focus on efficiency might actually be doing the opposite? What if, instead of reducing energy consumption, increasing efficiency leads to more demand for energy? This paradox, known as Jevons' Paradox, challenges the very idea that technological advancements alone can reduce our environmental footprint.

At its core, Jevons' Paradox is a counterintuitive economic phenomenon: as technological improvements make the use of a resource more efficient, overall consumption of that resource can actually increase.

Imagine a fuel-efficient car. You save money on gas, so you drive more. This "rebound effect" undermines the very efficiency gains you sought. Jevons' Paradox highlights this: making something easier or cheaper to use often leads to increased use, not decreased.

It also creates new product categories. Take for example LEDs. By being 6x efficient LEDs have created Electronic Billboards leading to higher usage, erasing all the gains elsewhere.

In other cases it makes the resources affordable that it opens it up to a new class of consumers, thereby increasing consumption. For example air travel. By making flying more efficient, the price would be decreased, thereby leading to more travel.

While making technology more efficient is an important piece of the puzzle, we must also reconsider how we approach resource use on a larger scale. By combining efficiency with smarter policies, behavioral changes, and reforms, we can move toward a more sustainable future.

[dejoe]

The Seduction of Success (Even When It's Rotten)

We're wired to admire success. It's primal. We're drawn to those who achieve, overcome, win. This natural admiration can inspire us to do better. But what happens when that success is built on a foundation of questionable morals? Surprisingly, it often doesn't diminish the allure. Sometimes, we even rationalize their bad behavior.

Think about captivating villains: Thanos, Loki, or Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender. She's ruthless and cunning, yet a fan favorite. Why? Competence. She strategizes, conquers, succeeds. Her morally gray victories are undeniably attractive.

This is a dangerous trap. Idolizing the successful but morally bankrupt normalizes harmful behavior. It whispers that the ends justify the means, fostering a culture where dishonesty and exploitation thrive. We must resist this.

The key? Evaluate how success is achieved, not just what is achieved. True role models demonstrate both competence and compassion. They use their influence to uplift, not exploit. These are the individuals who inspire genuine progress and build a better future. Choose them wisely.

[dejoe]

H. Pylori bacteria and its role in ulcers

Helicobacter pylori, commonly known as H. pylori, gained recognition when two Australian scientists – Barry Marshall and Robin Warren – discovered its association with stomach diseases in the 1980s. Their research revealed the role of H. pylori in stomach inflammations, ulcers and even cancer.

H.pylori endures the harsh, acidic environment by producing an enzyme named urease when entering the stomach. Urease converts urea (found in gastric juices) into carbon dioxide and ammonia. Ammonia raises the surrounding pH level, creating a protective bubble around the bacterium, enabling it to flourish.

While H. pylori strives to coexist peacefully within us, sometimes an imbalance occurs, resulting in harm instead of harmony. There are a few strains which produces toxins that damage the mucus in the stomach. Some strains develop a needle that pokes the mucus, and causes injury as well.

However, eradicating H. Pylori has known to be detrimental. It upsets the gut balance, and could lead to anxiety and overall health issues. However, any infection and prolonged inflammation or ulcers needs to be treated. With H. Pylori prevention is better than treating the infection. Hence adopt hygienic measures like washing hands, using safe drinking water, clean utensils must be practiced.

To demonstrate his theory about H.Pylori being responsible for gastritis, Dr. Barry Marshall consumed a petri dish full of the pathogens. Soon enough he developed the ulcers. Subsequent tests confirmed the infection. He was awarded the Nobel prize for medicine in 2005 for his discovery.

[dejoe]

Reasonable rather than Rational

This is a mental model or a framework that could be applied in multiple situations to the collective good and personal good.

Human body addresses an infection by increasing the temperature of the body to kill an infection. It has been studied that this is very effective. To study this a doctor treated Syphilis by inducing Malaria in patients to increase their body temperature. Since there were no drugs for treating Syphilis at that point of time, it was effective in saving the lives of many of his patients.

However, now, the practice is to reduce the fever first and treat the infection with medicine. The reason is that fever is horrible, and no one wants to suffer through that. This is a reasonable thing to do. The rational thing to do is to increase the temperature of the body and kill the infection.

Reasonable here refers to being practical, moderate and sensible. It takes into the emotional wants and needs of others. There might not be a single correct answer, and it allows for flexibility and compromise.

Rationality, on the other hand, refers to the ability to think logically and make decisions based on reason rather than emotion. Reason is looking into evidence and identifying cause and effect relationships. It is an important aspect of decision making. However, if we are too rigid in our thinking, we fail to consider the broader context of the situation.

By being reasonable, many a times, the most efficient choice would not be picked. You might be leaving something on the table. However, it more than makes up for it in the long run.

Few examples of situations where this will be helpful:

Ethical Decisions: These involve complex tradeoffs between competing values of principles. One broader example would be climate change mitigation. Other would be conversations around religion.

Resolving conflicts with loved ones: In these situations, it is essential to be both reasonable and rational. These situations are where you find a common ground between your needs and other's needs.

Finance: In Finance instead of waiting for the absolute best strategy that would give the best return, it is ok to continue investing, and settling for a strategy that provides reasonable returns.

While rationality is an essential component of good decision making, it should be balanced with reasonableness.

[dejoe]

Terraforming Mars

The objective of terraforming Mars would be to make it habitable, say earth 2.0. The closest we have to a habitable planet is Mars.

Terraforming Mars would be a massive undertaking, and it involves a few important alteration of the planet's characteristics.

Atmosphere

Mars' atmosphere is very thin compared to earth. It is composed of mostly carbon di oxide (95%). Mars has a lower gravity, so it does not have enough force to keep the atmosphere from slowly escaping.

Mars' internal dynamo is inactive. The dynamo is the process of generating magnetic field by churning of molten iron within a planet's core. Since Mars is smaller and cooler than earth, its core has largely cooler and solidified. Hence its magnetic field is weak and patchy.

A weak magnetic field provides it with little resistance to solar winds from sun. Solar winds would knock off the atmosphere, further depleting it. Compared to Mars, earth's magnetic field is stronger, and hence provides a shield against solar winds.

Temperature

The temperature at Mars is around -80F, making it unfit for human life. It is distance from the sun, and the lack of green house gases in its atmosphere makes the temperature very low.

What needs to be done?

The atmosphere has to be built by releasing trapped CO2 in the ice caps.

The atmosphere must be made breathable.

The temperature must be increased.

Liquid water must be created.

Popular Solutions

There are few popular solutions to doing that.

Nuking Mars

Elon popularized the idea of nuking Mars at its poles. This would presumably release swaths of C02 into the atmosphere. The heat released from the nuclear detonation, and the release of greenhouse gases (CO2 and water vapor) would heat the planet, as well as thicken the atmosphere.

The problem with that is two folds:

Building huge amount of nuclear bombs to be transported to Mars, would risk a nuclear Armageddon at earth, knowing our predisposition for war.

It could trigger a nuclear winter at Mars. Mars is dusty, hence a detonation could whip up a sand storm that could engulf the planet in darkness, thereby failing to increase the temperature as well.

Giant Mirrors

This one borrows from the popular myth that Archimedes used mirrors to burn enemy ships. Similarly if we could install giant mirrors in Mars' orbit, we could theoretically reflect the sun light and thereby heat up the Mars, triggering the release of green house gases in its polar region.

The biggest problem is in its implementation. How would we transport giant mirrors ? We would have issues with the rocket equation. To transport an 1lb weight, we would have to spend around $10,000. The heavier the load the difficulty and the economics become prohibitively big.

Hence we would have to do it with materials found on Mars, and then launch it from the surface of Mars. There are quite a few steps to get there.

Conclusion

These steps and methods are still at a hypothetical state and would take centuries to complete. Even if they are possible we have to consider the ethical implications of drastically altering another planet.

There is no planet B!

Bonus

Musk has set habituating Mars during his lifetime as one of his personal goals. One of the reasons he said was that it would provide another planet for human race to escape if A.I. takes over the world.

While Deep Mind CEO Demis Hassabis visited Musk, he casually remarked, that the A.I. and robots would find a way to travel to Mars, making his entire point moot. Musk was stumped by the plot hole it is said!