terraforming
/ˈtɛrəˌfɔːrmɪŋ/
Definition
The hypothetical process of deliberately modifying the atmosphere, temperature, surface topography, or ecology of a planet, moon, or other celestial body to be similar to Earth's and habitable for human life.
Etymology
The word is a 20th-century coinage formed by combining the Latin 'terra' (earth) with the verb 'forming' (to shape or create). It was popularized in science fiction before entering the lexicon of space science and planning.
In the news
In this article, the term appears as a category header related to the long-term goal of making other planetary environments suitable for human habitation through active environmental modification.
NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,204 12 June 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)
Read the full article ↗Astrobiology News