Dune: Scientists Determine People Could Survive On Desert Planet Arrakis

Scientists determine that people could actually survive on Dune‘s desert planet Arrakis. The science-fiction novel by Frank Herbert was published in 1965 and remains a classic of the genre, having inspired multiple TV and film adaptations that historically struggled to fully capture its narrative and themes. The most recent of these adaptations, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, tackles only the first half of the source material and was a critical success upon release.

The central premise of Dune is centered on the planet Arrakis, a punishing world of extreme temperatures that also happens to be the universe’s largest repository of spice, the immensely valuable substance that facilitates interstellar travel. Much is made of the planet’s inhospitality in every telling of Herbert’s story, with only the native Fremen people having adopted the necessary behaviors to survive in its deep deserts. Aside from the threat of the massive sandworms, living outside of Arrakis’ handful of cities requires a stillsuit, which is specially designed to recycle the water usually lost to sweat.

While Dune is firmly in the realm of science fiction, a group of climate scientists from The Conversation created a model from Herbert’s description of the desert planet, and they conclude that, climate-wise, it’s not all that implausible. While their supercomputer-enabled simulation contests a couple of the book’s assertions, such as the presence of longstanding polar ice caps, they remark that “the world he created looks remarkably consistent” despite the limitations of his era. And, while the Fremen have chosen to live in perhaps the most difficult areas to sustain life, “much of Arrakis itself would indeed be habitable, albeit inhospitable.“

The consistency of Herbert’s description of Arrakis’ environment, while certainly impressive, is likely no accident, as climate plays a crucial role in the larger story. In Villeneuve’s film, Imperial Ecologist Dr. Liet-Kynes informs protagonist Paul Atreides that the technology exists to turn Arrakis into a paradise, but all efforts to transform the planet ceased when the spice was discovered. Paul then signals that this will be a central goal of his mission to make a play for the Emperor’s throne, foreshadowing part of his relationship with the Fremen in the next installment.

Even if they’d hope never to find themselves on a desert planet, Dune fans will surely find it exciting to know how closely Herbert’s novel stays to the real science. Indeed, the seeming plausibility of the Fremen way of life is thematically crucial to the story, which relies heavily on allegory to comment on the colonial exploitation and subjugation of Arab and North African peoples by Western powers. While Villeneuve’s film might have softened the political commentary, it does capture the sense of overwhelming heat in the transition from Caladan to Arrakis, and fans will be eager to see how Dune: Part 2 handles the planet’s underground caverns.

Source: The Conversation

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