Either my Google-fu is weak...

[agilebrit]

Or they're really not doing research on this stuff.

To wit:

How much oxygen concentration in the atmosphere would be "too much"? What would the effects on mammals be of breathing an oxygen concentration half again what we have now (21% increased to about 30%)? What about birds and reptiles? Would we get bigger along with the bugs? Would our insides "rust" and thus our lifespans decrease? Apparently our white blood cells weaponize oxygen to combat infection (and how cool is that???), but all those free radicals bouncing around in a healthy body can't be good for you, right?

It's funny how you can change one thing about the environment...and all these other ramifications pop up. It's never easy. *grumbles*

Comments

[baron-waste.livejournal.com]

You ain't kiddin'. I work with that all the time.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but if I get the science wrong on this, I'm gonna get my chops busted and look like an idiot in the bargain. You're playing with history, which, yes, comes with its own caveats and stuff, but you can do anything you want as long as you sell it.

Of course, if the science isn't actually out there for me to lean on, then I guess I could just make up something plausible...and if I get called on it, say "Show me the research, dude. Cuz, I ain't findin' it."

[baron-waste.livejournal.com]

All hail the Internet.

Habitable Planets for Man examines and estimates the probabilities of finding planets habitable to human beings, where they might be found, and the number there may be in our own galaxy. The author presents in detail the characteristics of a planet that can provide an acceptable environment for humankind, itemizes the stars nearest the earth most likely to possess habitable planets, and discusses how to search for habitable planets. Interestingly for our time, he also gives an appraisal of the earth as a planet and describes how its habitability would be changed if some of its basic properties were altered. Habitable Planets for Man was published at the height of the space race, a few years before the first moon landing, when it was assumed that in the not-too-distant future human beings “will be able to travel the vast distances to other stars.” More than forty years after its initial publication, and to celebrate RAND’s 60th Anniversary, RAND is proud to bring this classic work back into print in paperback and digital formats.

Now, hold on: You may prefer

Planets for Man:

Planets for Man was written at the height of the space race, a few years before the first moon landing, when it was assumed that in the not-too-distant future human beings “will be able to travel the vast distances to other stars.” The authors propose to determine — on the basis of then-current biological and cosmological knowledge — whether there are other worlds where humans can survive or where human life may even now be flourishing. This volume, co-authored by RAND researcher Stephen Dole and science fiction master Isaac Asimov, certainly one of the more unusual co-authorships in RAND’s long history of research and publishing, it was based on a more technical treatise authored by Dole, Habitable Planets for Man. More than forty years after its initial publication, and to celebrate RAND’s 60th Anniversary, RAND is proud to bring this classic work back into print in paperback and digital formats…

[hitchhiker-42.livejournal.com]

Just a random thought here... have you tried looking for any old Mercury/Gemini/Apollo era research along those lines by NASA? Because they used pure oxygen in their spacecraft for the longest time, (Why the Apollo 1 fire was so devastating.) and if they didn't do massive amounts of research on it before they tried it, I'd be very surprised.

[baron-waste.livejournal.com]

Be surprised. They didn't have time to do “research.”

(You may remember that when Liberty Bell 7 was recovered from the ocean floor, it was found to have cigarette butts and Styrofoam coffee cups in it. NASA didn't want it good, they wanted it Tuesday.)