Fossil Carbon

There isn't any fossil carbon on Mars, and if even if there was we wouldn't use it.

Video caption text

00:00: [Foreboding orchestral music]; [Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War]
00:22: [Music]; [Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance (Land of Hope and Glory)]
00:32: This is New Albion on Mars
00:36: There are no fossil carbon deposits on Mars.
00:40: On Earth, fossil carbon deposits are; controversially used for energy from
00:44: hydrocarbons, fertiliser production, and for; manufacture of products such as plastics.
00:52: Hydrocarbons generally require combination; with oxygen to release their energy which
00:56: is an obvious drawback in the; small biospace of New Albion.
01:01: Fertilisers, plastics, and other; carbon-based products are manufactured
01:06: open-loop on Earth, relying; - as for fossil-origin hydrocarbons -
01:12: on Earth's biosphere 'sinking'; fossil-origin waste.
01:17: Much of the carbon used at New Albion is
01:20: originally extracted either from the Martian; atmosphere or from regolith.
01:25: It is replaced only very gradually as
01:28: we work hard to recycle; every component of our biospace.
01:33: We try never to 'burn'; hydrocarbons except in
01:36: very tightly controlled small amounts; inside New Albion.
01:41: We use plastics very sparingly - for; example on cable insulation.
01:47: The plastics we use here are synthesised from; carbon captured from waste.
01:53: Other chemicals and fertilisers are also; synthesised from recycled feedstocks.
01:59: It's often extremely energy-intensive, and; requires us to carefully monitor and
02:05: control the chemical composition of; New Albion's biospace.
02:10: On the other hand by recyling carbon; compounds, we guarantee we suffer from
02:15: none of carbon's waste, exhaust, or; emissions problems that plague Earth.
02:23: Earth's 'Black Gold' is a cursed treasure.; We're just fine without it!
02:31: [Dissonant clashing orchestral music]; [Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War]
02:48: [orchestral music continues]