What is it about?
Modern humanity faces fundamental constraints on growth and sustainability, as evidenced by Limits to Growth models and Planetary Boundaries frameworks. Here we extend these paradigms by integrating disciplines—materials science, artificial intelligence, planetary science, and ethics—into a unified circular economy model spanning Earth and beyond. We examine closed-loop systems, from Biosphere 2 analogues to in situ resource utilization (ISRU) for lunar and Martian bases, leveraging AI-driven exploration and autonomous robotics for efficient resource extraction and metamaterial synthesis. Techno-economic evaluations illustrate pathways to reduce environmental impact and ensure resource regeneration across scales. We provide actionable metrics—including material-flow performance, energy balances, and life-cycle costs—and outline governance frameworks aligned with UN SDGs. This Original Research article offers scholars and practitioners a blueprint for transcending limits to growth through resilient, closed-loop systems on Earth and in space.
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Why is it important?
Humanity’s traditional economic models assume boundless growth on a planet of finite resources—a premise irrevocably challenged by systems-dynamics models since The Limits to Growth (Meadows et al., 1972), which first demonstrated the inevitability of overshoot without constraint . Today, the Planetary Boundaries framework sharpens this view by identifying nine critical Earth-system thresholds—climate change, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, biodiversity loss, and more—that, if breached, could trigger irreversible damage to global stability . Recognizing these limits is fundamental: it reframes growth not as an unending trajectory but as a balance between human aspirations and ecological capacity. Moreover, acknowledging finite resources compels us to rethink development strategies beyond closed-loop economies on Earth and toward the broader Solar System. As resource depletion and environmental degradation accelerate, interplanetary expansion—mining lunar regolith for oxygen and metals, extracting water ice from Martian poles—offers a strategic hedge against terrestrial scarcity. Integrating in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) with sustainable practices thus becomes essential for long-term survival, reducing Earth-to-space supply chains and preserving our home planet’s integrity
Perspectives
From a scientific standpoint, overcoming growth limits demands an interdisciplinary paradigm. Materials science, biology, planetary geology, and AI converge to redefine habitability: extremophiles in Earth’s deep biosphere expand our notions of life (Onstott et al., 1998; Inagaki et al., 2015), while CNN-driven analysis of spectral and geological data automates mineral prospecting on other worlds . Large Action Models (LAM) promise autonomous decision-making, enabling robots to adapt extraction and construction strategies to unforeseen conditions without constant human oversight . Technologically, in-situ resource extraction and processing will hinge on innovations such as laser ablation under vacuum, cryogenic fracturing, electromagnetic separation, and biohydrometallurgy with engineered microbes tailored to Martian chemistry. Closed-loop bioregenerative life-support systems (BLSS) – lessons from Biosphere 2 – inform designs for self-sustaining habitats, recycling air, water, and nutrients in sealed environments . Metamaterials engineered at the nanoscale promise ultra-light, radiation-shielding structures, critical for constructing durable space stations and colonies. Finally, the ethical and societal perspective cannot be sidelined. Sustainable development on Earth and beyond must embed principles of equity, transparency, and planetary protection. International frameworks, building on the Outer Space Treaty and COSPAR guidelines, should govern resource access to prevent “space imperialism” and ensure benefits accrue to all humanity . Digital platforms for open data and collaborative governance models will be pivotal in balancing innovation with the stewardship of cosmic environments.
Serhii Kharchuk
Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Breaking Through the Limits to Growth, SSRN Electronic Journal, January 2025, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5241310.
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